THIBODAUX, La. - Making his Stopher Gymnasium debut, guard Byron Ireland scored a career-high 25 points as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat Elizabeth City State, 84-70, on Saturday afternoon on Broussard Court. 

Nicholls (4-6) did not see its first lead until six minutes remaining in the first half but never relinquished it the rest of the game. Ireland poured in 19 points after the intermission as the Colonels improved to 2-0 at home under first-year head coach Tevon Saddler.

Ireland paced four Colonels in double figures with Jamal West Jr., who collected a team-high nine rebounds, adding 17 points. Robert Brown III netted 16 points and Jalen White tacked on 11. 

The slow start was due to cold shooting from long range as Nicholls made just 2 of 13 from behind the arc in the first half. The Colonels found themselves down 18-10 through 10 minutes before White had a steal and a three-pointer to bring the deficit to 22-21. White followed with free throws to give Nicholls the lead and another steal by Mekhi Collins made way for a Brown triple.

The Vikings (3-7) scored inside on a bucket by Christopher Wright to come within two, but the Colonels went into the locker room with a 36-32 advantage.

Following the break, the Colonels sank 4 of 10 from three-point range and shot 60 percent overall in the half. But it wasn't until midway through the period that they were able to pull away.

More defense led to offense as West swatted away a shot and Brown capitalized with a three-pointer for the first double-digit lead at 62-50 with nine minutes remaining. The Colonel lead then swelled to 20 after Ireland canned a three-ball and West made a basket-and-one.

ECSU tried to make a late run by trimming the lead to 12, but a pair of free throws ended the 8-0 run and Michael Gray Jr. pushed the advantage back to 17 with a three-pointer.

Nicholls finished the day at 49 percent from the field and made 28 of 39 at the free throw line.

On defense, the Colonels limited the Vikings to 39 percent shooting and 2 of 18 from behind the arc. Michael Eads Jr. led the visitors with 14 points. 

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The Colonels will have a week off before hitting the road to play at Maryland (Dec. 19) and Towson (Dec. 22).