LAKE CHARLES, La. - McNeese scored the game's first points and never trailed for the entire evening as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team suffered an 83-62 loss Saturday at the Legacy Center.

The 21-point margin was also the largest lead for the Cowboys in the win, but the Colonels were able to cut the deficit to 10 points twice in the second half. The last came after Diante Smith, who matched his career-high of 29 points, made back-to-back three-pointers with five minutes to go. However, McNeese scored the next nine to put to rest any chance of a comeback.

With the win, McNeese (26-3, 15-1 SLC) secured an outright regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament, which is also hosted by the Cowboys. Nicholls (16-13, 11-5 SLC) still has a chance for the other double bye but trail Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by a game with two remaining.

Smith drained a career-high seven three-pointers on 15 attempts but the rest of the team made just 2 of 15. Smith had a solid all-around game as he finished with nine rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals. Jamal West also scored in double figures with 10 points.

McNeese had a balanced scoring effort with five players reaching doubt digits. Javohn Garcia totaled 17 points and made all three of his shots from behind the arc, while Shahada Wells. chipped in with 16 points and six assists. 

The Cowboys shot 52 percent for the game and had a 60 percent second half for the second time in as many meetings with the Colonels. Nicholls was able to cut down on its turnovers from the previous matchup with 17 but made just 35 percent from the field. 

The game was tied just once which came at 5-5 on Smith's first triple of the game. McNeese saw its first double-digit lead with six minutes to go in the half and it remained double figures the rest of the way. 

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Nicholls will take on Northwestern State in Natchitoches Monday night (March 4). Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.