THIBODAUX, La. - Playing at home for the first time in 2025, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team drained 12 three-pointers at over a 50 percent clip for the second straight game as the Colonels breezed by Stephen F. Austin with a 73-61 victory on Saturday afternoon on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.
In addition to connecting on 12 of 23 from deep in the victory, Nicholls (11-7, 5-2 SLC) shot 65 percent in the opening half for a 39-33 lead.
Robert Brown III, who made five three-pointers, broke a 10-10 tie with his first triple and the Colonels would never trail the rest of the way.
Nicholls saw its first 10-point edge when
Byron Ireland found
Jaylen Searles for a dunk to make it 24-14. The Colonels led by as much as 13 before the break.
The lead expanded to 20 early in the second half thanks to two treys by Brown, one from Searles, and a thunderous alley-oop slam by
Mekhi Collins. SFA (8-10, 1-6 SLC) was able to trim the deficit down to 12 with six minutes to go but never got any closer.
Ireland led the offense with a game-high 17 points and was 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Brown did most of his scoring from distance with 16 points, and Searles added 11 points -- making all three of his attempts from behind the arc as well.
As good as the Colonels were on the offensive end, the three-point defense managed to be more impressive. SFA (8-10, 1-6 SLC) made only 2 of 20 as the Colonels' defensive three-point percentage in league games dropped to 25 percent.
All nine Colonels who saw the floor scored in the win, and Brown led the defense with three steals.
Jamal West Jr. tallied two of Nicholls' five blocks.
SFA had three players crack double figures, paced by Chrishawn Christmas and Myles Jenkins with 12 points each.
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Nicholls will host Lamar on Monday for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
