THIBODAUX, La. - Despite a red-hot start, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team was unable to remain perfect at home as the Colonels suffered a 90-80 loss to Lamar University on Saturday afternoon on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.

With the loss, Nicholls (8-10, 7-2 SLC) dropped its second straight contest while also falling to Lamar (10-8, 5-4 SLC) for the sixth consecutive time. The Colonels will make the return trip to Beaumont on Feb. 23.

Nicholls raced out to a 12-3 lead with the help of four turnovers but could not keep Lamar from finding its offense. The Cardinals shot 71 percent in the half to lead 45-40 at the break and finished the day at 64 percent. The Colonels also had allowed only a combined 11 three-pointers in their four home games before Lamar drained 10 of 16 in the victory. 

The Colonels shot 48 percent and made 19 of 24 at the free throw line as four players finished in double figures. Sincere Malone put up a season-high 22 points on 6-9 from the field and hit all nine of his free throws, and Jaylen Searles added 20 points and sank 4 of 9 from three-point range. Both made a three-ball to fuel the fast start.

But Lamar answered with a 9-0 run to tie it and took their first lead at 17-16 on a Rob Lee Jr. three-pointer. Lee also cracked 20 points and connected on 4 of 5 from long range.

Nicholls was able to force one of nine turnovers in the half, getting a Malone layup off a Nick Krass steal to tie the game at 26. The teams traded leads before LU took control towards the end of the half. The Cardinals led by as much as nine before going into the break with a five-point edge.

Zee Hamoda started the scoring in the second with a three-pointer for the Colonels, but Lamar scored the next six points. LU stayed ahead by single figures until scoring off a steal for a 67-56 advantage with 10 minutes remaining.

The Colonels hung around the rest of the way but could never piece together a large enough run to climb back. A steal and a bucket capped a 6-0 spurt, making it a seven-point game with 1:43 remaining, but Andrew Holifield answered with a three-ball to all but put the game away. Holifield was one five Cardinals in double figures, finishing with 17 points.

For the Colonels, Grant Sanders scored a season-high 13 points and had seven rebounds, and Christian Winborne added 13 points as well. Malone accounted for eight of the Colonels' 14 assists and tacked on four steals.

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Nicholls will take on SFA at home at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19.