Peters scores 27 to lead Nicholls over UNO into first place in Southland

NEW ORLEANS – Senior guard Roddy Peters dropped a game-high 27 points to lift the Nicholls State University men’s basketball team to an 81-64 victory over the University of New Orleans Saturday at Lakefront Arena.

The Colonels improved to 14-9 overall and 8-2 in league play, and the Privateers fell to 12-11, 9-3.

This is Peters’ seventh consecutive double-digit scoring performance; the Washington D.C. native has scored 20-plus points in six of the last seven. He knocked down 10-19 field goals and also led the squad with six assists and three steals.

“We played unselfishly and that’s the key to our team,” Nicholls head coach Richie Riley said. “When we come out, play unselfishly and our focus is good, then we’ve got a good basketball team.

[Roddy] is a very, very good offensive player. When he makes jump shots like he made a couple tonight, he’s really tough to defend because it’s tough to keep him out of the paint and off the deck. The thing I’m most proud for Roddy is that he was such a willing passer tonight. He’s got to continue to be a willing passer, know when to score and when to spray it out. I think he did a great job of that tonight.”

Seniors Kimani Jackson, Jahvaughn Powell and Tevon Saddler poured in 15, 14 and 12 points, respectively. Jackson and Powell also combined for 15 boards. The Colonels shot 53 percent from the field while limiting UNO to just 47 percent. Nicholls outscored the Privateers 38-22 in the paint and 20-9 in second-chance points.

The Colonels used an early 10-0 run capped by a Jackson layup to take a 12-4 lead. That advantage was reduced to as little as four but stretched to 12 when Powell drained a three with 56 seconds left to give Nicholls a 35-23 halftime lead.

Powell hit two more threes in the midst of 11 straight Colonels points to increase the margin to 24 with 15:07 left on the clock. UNO battled back to bring the deficit down to 10 with 2:12 to play, but the Colonels closed the game by tallying 11 of the final 15 points.

“We need guys to be able to stretch the defense and ‘JP’ [Powell] was able to do that. Jahvaughn Powell was able to step up and make some huge shots,” Riley said.

Nicholls travels to Abilene Christian for its next game on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Get your season or single game tickets now by calling 985-448-4790 or visiting nichollstickets.com. To stay up to date with Nicholls men’s basketball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_MBB.