THIBODAUX, La. - For the second straight season, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team registered a 2-0 start in Southland Conference play as the Colonels picked up a 73-70 win over New Orleans on Saturday afternoon at Stopher Gymnasium.
Similar to Thursday's win over Southeastern, Nicholls (6-4, 2-0 SLC) was able to expand a slim halftime lead, 38-33, this time using a 9-0 run for a 57-45 advantage with 10 minutes remaining. New Orleans (2-6, 0-1 SLC) answered with a pair of threes but found itself down nine again with four minutes to go.
The Privateers made a late push cutting the deficit to 66-63 with 50 seconds on the clock, but despite missing on the front end of the bonus,
Mekhi Collins was able to get his rebound for the Colonels and it led to free throws by
Trae English. Following a UNO turnover,
Byron Ireland connected on two more at the line for a seven-point lead. UNO scored twice in the final seconds but came up short in its league opener.
Ireland paced the offense once again with 22 points while adding seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. English totaled a season-high 18 points and
Robert Brown III chipped in with 10 points. Collins grabbed 11 rebounds to go along with six points and two blocks.
For the second straight game, Nicholls struggled from three-point range, making 4 of 20. Three of the makes came in the first half, with Brown draining the second to spark a 7-0 run, forcing a UNO timeout with the score 14-8.
UNO took a 20-18 lead on a Jah Short made three-pointer, but like the Colonels, threes were tough to come by as the Privateers made just 5 of 17 for the game. However,
Ike Cornish made one from deep to put Nicholls back on top and the Colonels went into the break with a five-point lead.
Nicholls never trailed after the intermission, helped by English's 17 second-half points. The Red and Gray also got 25-plus minutes off the bench from
Emarion Ellis, who contributed with seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists.
New Orleans was led by MJ Thomas with 16 points and nine rebounds, and James White with 15 points.
