LAKE CHARLES, La. - For the second straight postseason, the Nicholls State University men's basketball survived in overtime as the Colonels defeated 7-seed UIW, 74-70, in the Southland Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Monday night at the Legacy Center. 

The victory for Nicholls (20-12) sets up a matchup against 2-seed Lamar on Tuesday night for a spot in the SLC title game. Last season, the Colonels outlasted Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in overtime to reach the championship game.

In Monday's win, Nicholls was led by Jamal West Jr. and Jaylen Searles who each posted double-doubles.  West poured in 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals for this sixth double-double of the season. Searles finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds and was 4 of 7 from the field.

The Colonels had trouble slowing down UIW's Dylan Hayman who scored a game-high 29 points, with 18 coming in the first half as the Cardinals led by five with two minutes until the break. But Emarion Ellis had three points on a free throw and a layup before Trae English drained a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 28-27 lead.

In the second half, UIW held a one-point advantage after eight minutes before Nicholls went on a 7-0 run. Caleb Robinson started it off with a dunk and Michael Gray Jr., who had 15 points, followed with two highlight plays -- a stepback jumper and a three-pointer for a 50-44 lead.

Nicholls was up by as much as eight before UIW clawed back to tie it at 55 with six minutes remaining. But Gray hit another three-ball and West made a pair of free throws for a six-point edge with 3:01 left on the clock. 

With 1:20 to go, UIW sank a free throw and then after a stop, Hayman canned a triple to make it 63-61. Nicholls misfired on another three and Jalin Anderson followed with a layup to tie the game with 16 seconds. Gray was able to get off a jumper before the buzzer but it was no good, sending the game into an extra period.

In overtime, Nicholls went up four after English free throws and a highlight dunk by West. But once again, Hayman scored twice and put UIW back on top, 68-67.

With under a minute to go, Gray was fouled and made two free throws for a one-point lead. Sincere Malone and West followed defensive stops with free throws for a five-point edge, and after UIW scored one last field goal, Brown sank one free throw with a second remaining to put the game away. 

Although Hayman finished 12 of 20 from the field, the Colonel defense was able to limit UIW's leading scorers -- Davion Bailey and Anderson -- to a combined 9 of 34 shooting. As a team, UIW made 5 of 22 from long range while Nicholls hit just 5 of 18. 

The victory gave Nicholls back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in school history. The Colonels will also be aiming for their second straight appearance in the title game under second-year head coach Tevon Saddler.