THIBODAUX, La. - After taking the lead with 13 seconds remaining, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team could not come up with the stop in the final seconds as Texas A&M-Commerce escaped with a 72-71 victory Monday night on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.
Trailing by a point, Nicholls (14-13-, 9-6 SLC) received a go-ahead bucket by
Latrell Jones as he pulled up from the baseline for a jumper and a 71-70 lead. Coming out of a timeout, the Lions' C.J. Roberts drove to the lane and banked home a tough shot to put A&M-Commerce back on top with 5.6 seconds remaining. After the Colonels used their final timeout,
Lance-Amir Paul drove the length of the court but was unable to get a good look as time expired.
The loss was just the second for the Colonels at home this season, but both occurred in the last five days. It also marked the first two-loss season at Stopher since
Austin Claunch's inaugural campaign in 2018-19.
After having not played one another in over 50 years, the two teams put together another classic battle for the second time in the last two months. Nicholls erased a 17-point deficit on the road and left Texas with a three-point win following a late 3-pointer by Jones. But this time, A&M-Commerce (12-17, 8-7 SLC) delivered the last-game heroics.
Despite the loss,
Caleb Huffman had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out. Paul scored 15 points and added five rebounds and four assists while Jones chipped in with 13 points.
Manny Littles added 10 points and five boards.
The game was tied at 36 at the break and it wasn't until Nicholls went on a 10-0 run early in the second half that either team flirted with a double-digit lead. The Colonels trailed 44-43 before Huffman hit two 3-pointers and added another bucket for eight of the Colonels' 10 straight points.
The Lions continued to hang around and regained the lead at 62-60 on a basket-and-one by Roberts. He and JJ Romer Rosario each scored 21 points for A&M-Commerce.
With just over three minutes remaining, Paul got his own rebound after missing two free throws and scored, pushing Nicholls back ahead at 68-67. Jones was then fouled going to the rim and made his second free throw, ending a string of eight consecutive misses for the Colonels at the line. After five consecutive games of shooting 75 percent or better at the charity stripe, the Colonels made just 5 of 13 in Monday's loss.
Down two, TAMUC tied the game on an alley oop from Kalen Williams to Demarcus Demonia. The Lions then added a Williams go-ahead free throw with a minute remaining to set up the final stretch.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will play its final road game Thursday at New Orleans. Tipoff at Lakefront Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
