THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team was limited to its second-lowest shooting percentage of the season, resulting in a 72-60 loss at home against Northwestern State Monday night in Stopher Gymnasium.

The loss dropped Nicholls (15-10, 9-5 SLC) out of a tie for second place in the Southland Conference standings and marked the first time being swept by Northwestern State (11-13, 8-6 SLC) since the 2016-17 season. 

Nicholls shot 31.3 percent in the setback but held a 33-27 lead at halftime. The offensive struggles started with four minutes remaining in the first half with the Colonels up 31-20, getting only a Mekhi Collins dunk the rest of the way.

Northwestern State opened up the second period with a 9-0 run to take the lead, but Byron Ireland canned a three-pointer to tie it up at 36. However, NSU answered with the next eight points and never looked back.

Despite making 4 of 10 from three-point range in the second half, Nicholls shot just 25 percent from the field. NSU matched the three-point shooting in the period but shot 45.8 percent overall and connected on 19 of 21 at the free throw line.

Michael Gray Jr. finished a point shy of his fourth consecutive 20-point effort but was 5 of 17 from the field. Sincere Malone added 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting, seven rebounds and three steals, and Jamal West Jr. tallied 12 points and six rebounds.

Love Bettis paced NSU with 16 points while Micah Thomas made 4 of 7 from deep and finished with 14 points. 

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Nicholls will hit the road but stay in Louisiana for its next two, starting with a matchup against Southeastern on Saturday, Feb. 15.