SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team shot a season-high 61 percent from the field and had five players scored in double figures as the Colonels claimed a season sweep of UIW with a 91-83 victory Saturday evening inside the McDermott Center.

Jaylen Searles and Zee Hamoda led the scoring for Nicholls (11-15, 10-7 SLC) as both finished 18 points. Jalik Dunkley added 17, Sincere Malone had 16 and Trae English totaled 12 points and seven assists in the Colonels' highest scoring output in league play this season.

Nicholls shot 58 percent in the opening half and made 6 of 11 three-pointers to lead 46-30 at the break. Dunkley set the tone right away with a tomahawk slam for the game's first points before the Colonels saw their first double-digit lead midway through the period at 22-12.

Before the intermission, a quick 8-0 run which included two Hamoda three-pointers gave Nicholls its largest lead at 45-27.

But in the second half, UIW (10-16, 5-12 SLC) started with a 13-2 run to climb back into the game. Malone scored inside before Searles slammed one down to push the advantage back to nine.

With eight minutes to go, UIW closed the gap to 62-58 on a Davion Bailey triple. However, it would be as close as they would get for the rest of the game. English answered with his own three-ball and Grant Sanders made a dunk and was fouled, pushing the lead back to double figures at 72-62.

Jordan Pyke, who had a game-high 24 points, made a late three for UIW to pull the Cardinals within five before Nicholls went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final 40 seconds to preserve the victory.

Nicholls played just seven players as all five starters scored in double figures. Sanders and Christian Winborne both scored five points off the bench. 

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The Colonels will play Game 2 of its four-game Texas road trip on Monday at Houston Christian. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.