STOCKTON, Calif. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team fell behind 9-0 in the opening minutes against the Pacific Tigers and despite its best offensive showing of the season, the Colonels came up short in securing their first road win in a 95-82 loss Sunday night in their final nonconference matchup.

Nicholls (3-8) was led in scoring by Jaylen Searles with 21 points and Christian Winborne added 15 to pace four Colonels in double figures. The Red and Gray posted a season-high 55.6 percent shooting effort and the 82 points were the most against a Division I team, but Pacific (9-4) had little trouble hitting shots as well finishing at 68.9 percent. 

The Tigers also dominated time spent at the free throw line, making 29 of 36 while the Colonels made 12 of 23. Pacific also had a plus-12 advantage in rebounding as they collected half (7) of their missed field goals (31 of 45).

The Colonels fell behind by double figures early but three-pointers by Zee Hamoda and Winborne helped bring the deficit to 13-8. The margin stayed in single digits until Pacific ended the half with a pair of free throws for a 45-34 edge.

Pacific scored on the opening possession after the break for a 13-point lead, but Nicholls answered with a 7-0 run. Winborne accounted for the first five points before Searles found Sincere Malone for a bucket.

The teams traded baskets over the next 10 minutes which made way for a 69-62 Pacific advantage. Searles then canned his fourth three-pointer of the night and was fouled, but missed the free throw. Nicholls was in the bonus after just five minutes in the second half and made 19 trips to the line but made only 10.

Two of the makes came on the Colonels' next possession when Malone made it a 69-66 game with six minutes remaining. Pacific countered with their own free throws before Searles scored on a driving layup. But Nicholls would not get any closer the rest of the way.

Pacific made 11 free throws down the stretch to keep the Colonels winless on the road.

Malone finished with 13 points and had three steals while Jalin Rice came off the bench for 10 points.

The Tigers were led by Elias Ralph (25 points) and TJ Wainwright (23).

UP NEXT
Nicholls will head to South Texas for its first Southland road games, taking on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 29) and UTRGV (Dec. 31).