THIBODAUX, La. - After trailing for most of the night, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team used a 27-8 run to erase a 10-point deficit in the second half to pick up its third win in a row with a 75-67 victory over HCU Monday on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.

Nicholls (14-9, 8-4 SLC) was down 38-27 at the break and 52-42 with 12 minutes remaining before everything clicked for the Colonels. Nicholls shot 52 percent in the second half, made 4 of 9 from three, and took care of business at the free throw line by making 18 of 21 after missing their only two attempts in the opening period. 

Michael Gray Jr., coming off a 20-point performance in the win over first-place McNeese, poured in 19 second-half points to help orchestrate the comeback as he matched his career-high of 25 points. He led a trio of Colonels in double figures as Jamal West Jr. tallied his third double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds while Robert Brown III added 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals.

Nicholls started off slow as HCU (10-13, 7-5 SLC) led 14-4 after eight minutes of play. It wasn't until Gray hit a three-pointer with 6:51 to go in the half that the Colonels tied the game, knotting the score at 20-20. But HCU followed with two straight threes by Porter Bazil and added another one from deep to build the 38-27 advantage at the half.

In the second half, the Colonels ramped up their scoring but still had trouble slowing the Huskies' offense. D'aundre Samuels drained a three for the visitors and then answered a West layup with his own, giving HCU a 52-42 lead.

But it then turned into the Mike Gray show as he reeled off nine straight points for the Colonels. Byron Ireland added a layup before Gray sank his second three-pointer of the run. Then after West delivered a block on a dunk attempt, Gray made another from long range to bring Nicholls within a point at 57-56.

Brown gave Nicholls the lead on a pair of free throws with 7:29 remaining and the Colonels never trailed again. Gray added one last three before West capped the decisive run with two free throws for a 69-60 Colonel lead. Nicholls sank six free throws in the final four minutes to earn their 11th straight win in the series.

HCU shot 49 percent in the loss but made just 6 of 10 at the free throw line while Nicholls connected on 18 of 23. Bryson Dawkins led the Huskies with 21 points on 8 of 21 from the field.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will continue its home stand with a Saturday (Feb. 8) matchup against East Texas A&M. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. following the women's game.