THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team shot a season-high 57 percent from the field and made double figures in three-pointers for the first time in league play as the Colonels picked up a season sweep over Texas A&M-Commerce with an 85-70 victory on Senior Day Saturday afternoon on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium. 

With the win, Nicholls (15-12, 10-4 SLC) remained in a tie for second place in the Southland Conference standings with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The victory also improved the Colonels' record to 9-2 at home this season.

Diante Smith led the offense with 19 points helped by 4 of 6 from three-point range, while Robert Brown III scored 17 with three buckets behind the arc. Jamal West Jr. also finished in double figures, making 5 of 5 from the field to go along with a team-high six rebounds. 

Nicholls drained 11 of 24 from three-point range after making 6 of 10 in the second half. The Colonels led 39-33 at the break and the hot shooting helped them enjoy a 15-point lead with 12 minutes remaining. Senior Quinn Strander found Mekhi Collins for a dunk to put the Colonels up 59-44.

The lead stayed in double figures until the Lions (10-18, 4-11) scored seven straight points to make it a 74-68 game with 2:20 to go. But West slammed home a putback on the next possession and Strander answered a field goal by Kalen Williams, who had a game-high 31 points, with a layup to push it back to eight. Williams scored one more time before Texas A&M-Commerce was forced to foul the rest of the way. 

After just a combined seven points between the teams through the first four-plus minutes, Smith started the three-point barrage for a 6-4 lead. Senior Jalen White came off the bench and hit one from deep, then Smith followed with another. The Lions tied it back up at 16 before Brown scored inside and White delivered another three-pointer. Nicholls never trailed the rest of the game.

In addition to its precise shooting, the Colonel offense had season-high 22 assists on 29 made field goals. Byron Ireland dished out six helpers while Strander had a career-high five. Strander also set personal bests with nine points and five steals. White connected on two three-pointers while fellow senior Taylor Blanchard also cracked the scoring column with three points. 

With the victory, head coach Tevon Saddler also set a program mark for the most wins for a first-year head coach in the Division I era with 15. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will wrap up its home slate with a Monday night contest against UIW on Feb. 26. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.