Turnovers, poor free-throw shooting sink Colonels in loss to Tulane to open Saddler era

Nicholls led by as many as 12 points in the first half at Tulane but turnovers and missed free throws sunk the Colonels in a 91-81 loss Monday at Fogelman Arena in Devlin Field House in New Orleans to spoil the head coaching debut of Tevon Saddler.

The Colonels (0-1) lost by a 10-point margin as Tulane converted 18 Nicholls turnovers into 22 points. The Colonels were 9 of 20 from the free-throw line.

Nicholls scored the first four points of the season a 3-pointer by Jalen White and a Diante Smith free throw.

The biggest lead for Nicholls came at 22-10 on a 3-pointer by Michael Gray at the 13:25 mark of the first half.

Tulane (1-0) whittled away at the deficit, eventually taking its first lead of the game on a 3-pointer by Kolby King for a 29-27 Green Wave advantage with 8:04 remaining in the opening half. The 3-pointer was one of four made by King in the game.

Nicholls managed to regain the lead, the last time at 42-41 on a pair of free throws by White.

Tulane regained the lead for good in the first half on another 3-pointer by King for a 44-42 edge with 49 seconds left in the period. A jumper by King with 20 seconds remaining allowed the Green Wave to take a 46-42 halftime lead.

King finished with 22 points and was one of three Tulane players to score at least 20 points. Sion James tossed in 21 points and Collin Holloway 20. Kevin Cross had 18 for the Green Wave. Cross also topped Tulane with 14 rebounds.

Jamal West of Nicholls topped all scorers with 24 points. Mekhi Collins added 14 for the Colonels, while Smith chipped in 11, and White 10. Collins led the Colonels with 13 rebounds.

The Colonels managed to take the lead once in the second half.

A short jumper by West in the paint put Nicholls on top 50-49 at the 17:39 mark of the second half.

Holloway countered with a shot in the paint to put Nicholls on top for good seconds later.

The biggest lead of the game for Tulane was 13 points at 83-70 on a dunk by Cross with 3:13 left in the game.

Nicholls could get no closer than nine points the remainder of the game in eventually falling 91-81.