THIBODAUX – Freshman forward MJ Thomas scored a career-high 16 points, but the Privateers (2-6, 0-1 Southland) couldn't withstand a second half Nicholls run eventually falling 73-70 to the Colonels (6-4, 2-0 Southland) on Saturday afternoon at Stopher Gymnasium.
A highly competitive first half ended with a 38-33 Nicholls advantage. Each team took the lead seven times in the opening portion of the contest, and the game was tied five times. Nicholls' largest lead in the first half was seven to UNO's three.
Kohen Rowbatham, drawing a second half start alongside Turk Vincent, converted a layup, forced a turnover on the other end, and then fed Thomas for a circus scoop layup that cut the Nicholls' lead to three with 15:44 to go in the game.
A pair of buckets from Thomas kept the Nicholls lead at three before a dunk from Jalen West Jr, and a floater from Byron Ireland woke up the crowd and gave the Colonels a 54-45 lead with 12:17 to play in the game.
James White responded with a left wing three, which was quickly followed by JR Jacobs hitting a three on the next possession cutting the Colonels lead to six. Trae English knocked a three on the other side before Jacobs drove down the lane to cap an 8-3 spurt by the Privateers with 7:49 to play.
Trailing 68-59 with three and a half minutes to play Jacobs hit his second three of the second half, before a pair of free throws cut the Nicholls lead to four. The comeback appeared on when White scored again with 50 seconds to play to make it a one possession game. The Colonels knocked down free throws down the stretch to hold on for the victory.
Thomas led UNO with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Three other Privateers finished in double-figures. Jah Short and Jacobs both added 12 points, and Jacobs had his fourth game of the season with four or more assists. White finished with 15 after a slow first half start.
The game was back-and-forth early with Thomas the key for UNO in the post – the freshman scored seven of UNO's first eight points using a variety of moves in the paint to finish at the rim and draw fouls. A 9-0 run following the first media time out gave the Colonels a 14-8 lead and forced an early time out from Stacy Hollowell with 13:36 to play in the first half.
Out of the time out New Orleans went on a 7-2 run including a lefty finish in the lane and a catch and shoot three from Short as well as a jumper by White and trailed by one with 11:02 left to play in the first half. The Colonels were held to 1-of-6 from the field during that stretch.
Nicholls took six point lead after a two-handed follow up dunk from Makhi Collins with 59 seconds to play. Short then knocked down a pair of free throws and beat the buzzer with a layup giving him 12 first half points.
The Colonels were led by Ireland's 22 points on 8-of-20 shooting, English finished with 18 and Brown with 10. Collins had 11 rebounds for the Colonels who out-rebounded UNO 43-37.
New Orleans is back in nonconference competition Sunday Dec. 15 when they travel to Iowa City, Iowa to face the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-2, 1-1 B1G) in another 1 p.m. tipoff. The game will air on the B1G Network, and on the radio on The Ticket 106.1 FM.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
Keep up to date with everything New Orleans Privateers Men's Basketball. Follow @PrivateersHoops on both Twitter/X, and Instagram, like /PrivateersHoops on Facebook and subscribe to the UNOPrivateers YouTube.
