THIBODAUX, La. - Five Colonels scored in double figures while the defense racked up a season-high 18 steals as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team picked up a 79-35 win over Mississippi College on Monday night on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.

Byron Ireland led Nicholls (3-4) with 15 points and Michael Gray Jr. added 14 in his first start of the season. Mekhi Collins finished with 12 points, Trae English had 11 and Jaylen Searles totaled 10.

Searles led the defensive effort with seven steals and English recorded four. The defense made way for 26 points-off-turnovers and 23 fast-break points. The 18 steals were the most for the program since tallying 21 in a win over Carver College in November of 2021. 

The opening minutes told a different story than the final score with Mississippi College leading 14-10 thanks to three three-pointers.  But a Searles steal and dunk ignited a 20-0 Nicholls run that saw the Choctaws go scoreless for nine minutes. All 10 field goals during the spurt were in the paint and the first five were via dunks.

The lead remained in double figures in the first half with Gray closing out the period with a three-ball to make the score 39-24. The momentum then carried over after the break with the Colonels scoring the first 11 points. 

Nicholls led by as much as 46 as they picked up their second home win of the season.

Mississippi College, which counted the game as an exhibition, shot 26 percent from the field and went to the free throw line just three times. Tyree Bracey was the lone Choctaw in double figures with 11 points.

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Nicholls will head to Lafayette on Saturday, Nov. 30 to take on Louisiana. Tipoff in the Cajundome is scheduled for 2 p.m.