Colonels play final home games against pair of undermanned teams

Other than the two schools involved, no team is more affected by the recent post-game brawl between Texas A&M-Commerce and the University of Incarnate Word than Nicholls.

Numerous players from both teams were suspended, some for us to four games, beginning immediately.

With the way the Southland Conference schedule plays out, it just so happens that the Colonels will host both teams in their final home games of the regular season. The suddenly short-handed teams each lost to Nicholls in overtime in games earlier this season.

Up first for Nicholls (9-4 in the SLC, 14-12 overall) is a game against Commerce at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Lions will be without Jerome Brewer, Ant Abraham, Kwo Agwa, all of whom are suspended for four games, and Price Davies, who received a one-game suspension.

Brewer is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 14.2 points per game for a Lions team that goes in the game 4-10 in the conference and 2-5 overall. He also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.5 rebounds per contest.

Agwa is the team’s fourth-leading scorer, averaging 11.2 pointers per outing.

Brewer and Agwa have combined to average 25 of the team’s 69 points per game.

Abraham is averaging 2.8 points per game, and Davies1.7 per contest.

The Lions will have leading scorer Kalen Williams on hand. Williams is second in the SLC in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game.

Texas A&M-Commerce also will have the services of Tommie Brewer, who is averaging 13.9 points and is the team’s third-leading scorer.

The full Nicholls contingent includes the likes of Diante Smith, who is third in the league in scoring at 16.5 points, third in 3-point percentage at .393, along with ranking eighth in both field goal percentage at 41 percent, and in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 rebounds per contest.

Rob Brown ranks sixth in scoring at 15.9 points per game, second in 3-point shooting at 39.4 percent, and fifth in field goal percentage at 43.8 percent.

In the first game between the teams, the contest featured 25 league changes, eight ties, several scoring sprees and scoring droughts, with Nicholls ultimately coming out on top 87-84 in double-overtime.

Smith, who had a career-high 29 points, hit a 3-point shot with 30 seconds left in regulation to force the game to overtime at 65-65.

Nicholls hit the first wo baskets of the initial overtime to lead by four points before the teams, as they had done throughout the game, traded baskets.

Smith hit a 3-pointer with one second remaining to send the game to a second overtime with the score 77-77.

The lead changed hands three times in the second overtime, with the final one proving to be the difference for the Colonels.

A basket by Lewis left the Lions trailing 84-82 with 15 seconds left in the second overtime.

Two free throws by Byron Ireland put Nicholls on top 86-82 with 10 seconds left in the game.

Lewis drove quickly for an uncontested layup to make it 86-84 with 5.8 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

Commerce was forced to foul, with Brown going to the free-throw line. He hit 1 of 2 with four seconds showing, giving the Lions one last desperation chance.

James Weathers’ heave was off the mark, allowing Nicholls to come away with overtime triumph.

UIW went into the week at 3-10 in the Southland and 8-18 overall, played at McNeese on Thursday. Monday’s game against the Colonels is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Broussard Court at Stopher Gym.

The Cardinals will be without second-leading scorer Alex Anderson, who is averaging 12.6 points per game.

Also out for the Nicholls game will be Marcus Glover, Elijah Davis, and Gabe Beny Til.

Glover is averaging 3.3 points per game, while Davis has scored 40 points all season. Beny Til has not scored on the season.

Sky Wicks leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game, and is eighth in the Southland rebounding, averaging 6.7 boards per outing.

Josiah Hammons ranks seventh in 3-point percentage at 35.7 percent.

In the earlier meeting between the teams, Nicholls’ Mekhi Collins blocked the shot of Wicks with one second left in regulation, forcing overtime.

It was the fourth overtime for the Colonels, including the third the in Southland play.

As the teams traded baskets in the overtime period, the game was either tied or the Colonels

enjoyed a two-point edge. The only time Nicholls led by more than three was when a 3-pointer by Brown gave the Colonels a three-point edge at 67-64.

The three-point advantage quickly disappeared when Hammons answered with a 3-pointer of his own.

Smith hit a free throw to give Nicholls a two-point edge at 76-74 with 14 seconds left in overtime.

Needing a basketball to force a second overtime, Anderson had the ball taken away by Byron Ireland. Ireland went coast-to-coast, scoring with one second remaining to secure a 78-74 win for Nicholls.