COMMERCE, Texas - Jamal West Jr. and Michael Gray Jr. each scored 17 points to lead four Colonels in double figures as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team cruised to an 83-61 victory at East Texas A&M on Monday night at The Field House.

Nicholls (9-6, 3-1 SLC) used a 13-0 run in the first half to pull away from the Lions (2-13, 0-4 SLC). The Colonels were up as much as 18 before the break and led by double digits the rest of the way before securing their second 20-point Southland win on the road under second-year head coach Tevon Saddler. 

The Colonels had one of their best offensive showings of the season, setting team bests in field goal percentage (.564), three-point percentage (.450, 9/20), free throw percentage (.923), and assists (21). Trae English added 13 points and four assists while Byron Ireland totaled 11 points and five helpers.

Coming off the bench for the first time this season, West filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, five blocks and four assists. West missed just one shot on the night, going 5 for 6 from the field and 7 of 7 at the free throw line. Gray's 17 points were aided by 5 of 9 from behind the arc and he also added six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Mekhi Collins finished just shy of double figures with nine points.

The decisive first-half run was fueled by the Colonel defense. Nicholls had two blocks and two steals during the stretch, turning a 16-13 lead into a 29-13 margin with five minutes until the intermission. Nicholls went into the half with a 38-24 advantage.

With West scoring 11 first-half points, Gray took over in the second with 12 -- all coming on three-pointers. His three-ball with 10 minutes remaining gave Nicholls its first 20-point lead at 62-42.

East Texas A&M trimmed the deficit to 13 points with an 8-0 run but never came any closer. 

The Lions shot 42 percent for the game but made only 6 of 28 from three-point range. Nicholls headed into the matchup ranked 34th in the NCAA in three-point defense.

Khaliq Abdul-Mateen and Scooter Williams Jr. each totaled 12 points for the Lions.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will stay on the road next weekend, facing preseason favorite McNeese on Saturday, Jan. 11 in Lake Charles.