Nicholls overcomes slow start to handle UIW, 69-58

THIBODAUX, La. – Latrell Jones scored 21 points on 9 of 13 from the field to lead four Colonels in double figures, as the Nicholls State University men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 69-58 victory over UIW Thursday night on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.

Nicholls (15-9, 5-2 SLC) trailed the visitors 20-10 midway through the opening half but took control with a 23-2 run before the break. Jones accounted for nine of the points en route to his second 20-point effort of the season.

Ty Gordon finished with 15 points helped by three 3-pointers. Manny Littles was a rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards, and Ryghe Lyons cracked double figures with 10 points.

Coming off a 34-point game in the win over New Orleans, UIW’s RJ Glasper scored 12 points in the first half but Nicholls held him without a point after the intermission. He was one of four players for UIW (5-20, 1-7 SLC) to reach double figures. Charlie Yoder posted a double-double for the Cardinals with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Nicholls 46 percent for the game but had a frigid start, making just 4 of 17 in the first 11 minutes of the game. The cold shooting allowed UIW to lead 20-10 before the game-changing run.

The Colonels led 40-29 at the half and pushed it to as much as 14. UIW trimmed the deficit to 57-52 with six minutes to go, but Gordon canned two of his 3-pointers to spark an 8-0 run that put the game away.

Gordon added five assists on the night, as did Pierce Spencer. The Colonels had 18 helpers on 29 made baskets.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, with tipoff scheduled for around 3 p.m. It is scheduled to begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women’s game.