NEW ORLEANS - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team had four players score in double figures while the defense held New Orleans to 36 percent from the field, leading to a 78-62 victory for the Colonels on Monday night at Lakefront Arena.

The victory improved Nicholls' record to 16-11 overall and 10-6 in the Southland. It also gave the Colonels a series sweep of New Orleans (4-23, 2-14 SLC) for the second straight season.

Byron Ireland fueled the offense with 19 points on 8 of 11 from the field, while Trae English scored 17 points and matched his career-high of eight assists for the second straight game. Robert Brown III added 15 points and Jamal West Jr. notched a double-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and totaled three blocks.

Nicholls only trailed after the opening basket by the Privateers. Jaylen Searles drained a three-pointer and the Colonels went on to sink five from deep in the first seven minutes for a 17-9 lead. English and Brown both made two triples in the early going.

UNO weathered the storm and fought back to make it a 22-21 game. But Ireland found Brown for a fastbreak jumper and then hit the sixth triple of the half to give Nicholls a six-point cushion. The Colonels stretched to lead to double figures at the half at 37-27.

English came out of halftime and drained another three-ball, then had a steal that led to a Sincere Malone dunk, forcing UNO to call a timeout.

With 13 minutes remaining, Ireland scored inside for a 52-32 advantage. UNO's Kohen Rowbatham answered with a bucket inside, but Brown hit another three-pointer for the Colonels' largest lead of the night.

The Privateers put together a 13-0 run over the next four minutes, capped on a three-ball by Grant Kemp. UNO cut the deficit to six with 7:26 remaining but would not get any closer the rest of the way. West made three free throws and a Searles' floater pushed the lead back to double figures with three minutes to go.

Ireland added a three in the final minute before Brown sank a jumper on the Colonels' last possession to make the final. 

UNO also had four players score in double figures with MJ Thomas and Leland Coleman joining Rowbatham with 12 points. Thomas grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds for a double-double. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will return for its last two games in Stopher Gym, starting Saturday against UTRGV. The contest will serve as Senior Day and is scheduled for 3 p.m.