EDINBURG, Texas - Robert Brown III scored a game-high 24 points, Byron Ireland added 21 and Jaylen Searles finished with 16 as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team erased a 10-point deficit in the second half to defeat UTRGV, 82-75, Monday night inside the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

After another low-scoring first half, Nicholls (12-9, 6-4 SLC) shot 54 percent in the final 20 minutes and scored 52 points to snap its two-game skid. While Brown cracked double figures in each half, Ireland and Searles combined for 27 points in the final stanza to fuel the comeback against UTRGV (12-9, 4-6 SLC). 

The 10-point deficit came four minutes into the second period and the comeback was in full swing midway through the half. Searles slammed home a dunk to make the score 60-57 before Jamal West Jr., who had nine points and two blocks, swished his first three-pointer of the season, tying the game at 60-all. Searles then delivered a basket-and-one off a steal to put Nicholls ahead.

DK Thorn answered with a three to even it up again but Ireland then took over. Coming off the bench for the first time after 14 consecutive starts, Ireland made four free throws and two midrange jumpers to keep Nicholls in front at 76-71 with three minutes remaining. UTRGV chipped away at the deficit and made it a one-point game before Ireland cut through the Vaquero defense for a layup with 45 seconds to go.

Brown followed with a steal and put the game away with a fastbreak bucket and was fouled, doubling the lead with a free throw. 

While the offense was sluggish in the first half as Nicholls shot 37 percent and trailed 34-30 at the intermission, the Red and Gray defense continued to be solid. UTRGV shot 38 percent on the night but was nearly perfect at the free throw line, making 17 of 18.

The teams finished dead even in rebounds but after allowing UTRGV to score 11 second-chance points in the first half off of nine offensive rebounds, Nicholls limited the Vaqueros to three boards on offense after the break and two second-chance points. Kwo Agwa had 10 points and 10 rebounds for UTRGV in the opening half and finished with 14, 12, and four blocks.

Thorn led the home squad with 23 points while Howie Fleming Jr. scored 15.

The matchup was the first between the schools since 2017 and the victory was the second straight on the road for the series. It also marked the sixth road win for the Colonels as they head into a four-game home stand. 

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Nicholls will welcome first-place McNeese on Saturday, Feb. 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. following the women's game at 1 p.m.