THIBODAUX, La. - In a night where points were at a premium, Diante Smith and Robert Brown III combined for 38 as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team knocked off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 67-63, Monday night inside Stopher Gymnasium. 

Both teams entered the matchup tied for second place in the Southland standings, trailing McNeese by two games. The victory for the Colonels moved them into sole possession of second after Lamar fell to UIW. 

Although both teams finished under 40 percent from the field, Nicholls (13-11, 8-3 SLC) hit timely three-pointers to spark a pair of runs. Leading by one early in the second half, Smith, Brown, and Byron Ireland each drained one from long range in an 11-4 spurt. Brown sank another three-pointer for the squad's largest lead at 11 points with less than seven minutes remaining and the Colonels would stave off a late push to end a four-game losing streak in the series to the Islanders (14-10, 7-4 SLC). 

Smith poured in a game-high 20 points on 6 of 11 from the field and missed just once in four three-point attempts. Brown also had a good showing, making 6 of 13 and 4 of 9 from behind the arc for 18 points. In his second game back from an injury, he scored 11 points in the first half after sinking three three-pointers. Ireland also finished in double figures for the night with 12 points while adding seven rebounds. 

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the opening half as the Islanders went into the intermission with a one-point lead. There were nine lead changes and four ties in the first 20 minutes and A&M-Corpus Christi had the biggest lead for either team when they were up 26-21 with just over five minutes to go. An Oumar Koureissi putback sparked an 8-0 run for the Colonels with Smith and Brown capping it with another set of clutch three-pointers. But the Islanders scored six of the final eight points in the half, highlighted by a Stephen Giwa slam.

The teams only traded leads three times in the second half. The 11-4 run created separation for the Colonels before later in the stanza, Brown went on a 5-0 run to give Nicholls a 57-46 advantage.  

The Islanders did not go away, however, answering with a 7-0 surge as Tedrick Washington trimmed the deficit to 57-53 with a three-pointer. After Jamal West Jr. scored inside to push the lead back to six, AMCC made another three-pointer in the final minute to slice the lead in half. The Colonels used most of the shot clock on their next possession and Ireland all but put the game away with a basket-and-one. The visitors would make a layup and another three in the final seconds but Smith went 4-for-4 at the free throw line to secure the victory.

The Colonel defense had another strong showing in protecting the rim, blocking seven shots on the night. Mekhi Collins had three blocks and the SLC's leader, West, totaled two. Koureissi also had a key block down the stretch. West led the team with eight rebounds.

Three Islanders finished in double figures with Garry Clark and Owen Dease scoring 13 points each. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will continue its home-loaded February slate as the first-place McNeese Cowboys come to Thibodaux on Saturday, Feb. 17. The Colonels and Cowboys have not played this season with Nicholls trailing in the standings by 2.0 games. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.