THIBODAUX, La. - Needing a victory to stay in contention for a bye in the SLC Tournament, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team received strong performances off the bench as
Michael Gray Jr. scored a game-high 22 points and
Emarion Ellis had a career night with 17 points and four steals, leading the Colonels to a 71-69 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday night at Stopher Gymnasium.
In addition to having the two leading scorers come off the bench,
Mekhi Collins saw 24 minutes, totaling four points and eight rebounds, and
Caleb Robinson saw his first action since early January and contributed down the stretch including a bucket in the final minute for a three-point lead. Gray closed out the game by going 4-for-4 at the free throw line to secure the victory. Â
With the win, Nicholls (18-11, 12-6 SLC) moved two games ahead of AMCC (17-13, 10-8 SLC) and into a tie for third place. The Colonels are a game behind Lamar for second and will wrap up the regular season at LU on Monday after a Saturday trip to Stephen F. Austin.Â
West was the lone Colonel starter to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points on 5 of 8 from the field. Ellis made 6 of 9 shots including 2 of 4 from three-point range, and Gray poured in 21 of his game-high 22 in the second half as Nicholls had to erase a double-digit deficit.
The Islanders came out on fire and led 21-7 through eight minutes. But Ellis sparked the offense by scoring eight points of a 10-0 run, canning two three-pointers and a jumper.Â
AMCC countered the run and went back up 31-19 on a Jaden Walker bucket with eight minutes until the break. The Islander lead hovered around double figures the rest of the half as they went into the locker room with a 36-28 advantage.
Trailing 40-32 early in the second half, Nicholls turned the tables with a 15-3 run over the next five minutes. Ellis started the spurt with a steal and layup, then Gray took over by draining a trio of three-pointers and a jumper.
Nicholls did not trail again until two minutes remaining in the game when Leo Torbor got inside for a layup and a 64-63 Islander lead. But Gray quickly erased the deficit with two free throws, then after a stop, Robinson scored his only bucket of the game for a 67-64 advantage.
The Islanders looked for a three to tie it with 17 seconds remaining, but the Colonel defense forced an attempt late in the shot clock that resulted in an air ball. Gray's final free throws were enough to negate two late baskets by the Islanders.
Garry Clark led four AMCC players in double figures with 17 points and seven rebounds.
