Nicholls men’s basketball team goes 1-2 in Jaguar Classic with triple OT win over USA

The Nicholls men’s basketball team went 1-2 in the Jaguar Classic in Mobile, but the one win came in dramatic fashion against a former Colonels coach.

On the second day of the three-day event, Nicholls (2-3) defeated the University of South Alabama and former Colonels coach Richie Riley 102-97 in triple overtime.

In the Colonels’ final game of the three-day tournament on Friday, Nicholls lost 60-51 to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Nicholls dropped its opening game 91-85 to Denver.

Against host USA, Nicholls scored six points in the final 44 seconds of regulation. A layup by Jamal West at the buzzer tied the game 68-68 to send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime, Nicholls built a lead of as many as seven points before the Jaguars rallied. Trailing 79-78, USA’s Tyrell Jones hit two free to put the Jaguars on top. With one second remaining, West followed with a free throw to force a second overtime.

Down by three points in the second overtime, Rob Brown of Nicholls knocked down a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to tie the game at 87-87 and force a third overtime.

After a basket by USA’s Isiah Gaiter to open the third overtime, Brown connected on a 3-pointer to give Nicholls a one-point edge at 90-89 and the Colonels would never trail again.

Nicholls built a lead of as many as eight points on its way to the 102-97 win.

The Colonels reversed an early-season trend in picking up the win.

Nicholls surrendered big leads in games to open the season but had to rally from a large deficit against the Jaguars. Nicholls trailed by as many as 17 points before eventually going on to post the victory.

West had a game-high 31 points for Nicholls. Brown and Diante Smith added 19 apiece, while Jalen White tossed in 17, and Micah Thomas chipped in 10. Smith had 10 rebounds for the Colonels.

In the loss to SIUE, the Colonels were held to 30 points below their early-season scoring average.

Nicholls had a lead of as many as five points in the first half when a jumper by Oumar Koureissi gave the Colonels a 12-7 edge at the 12:45 mark of the opening period.

The Cougars took the lead at 16-15 on a follow-up shot by Arnas Sakenis and never trailed again. SIUE led by as many as seven points on its way to a 27-23 halftime lead.

SUIE built a lead of as many as nine points and never led by less than four points in the second half.

Smith was the only Nicholls player to reach double-figure scoring with 16 points.

The Colonels shot 26 percent from the field and from 3-point distance. Nicholls was out-rebounded 50-32.

Shamar Wright was the top scorer for SIUE with 15 points.

Against Denver, the Colonels held a lead of 18 points in the first half before the Pioneers went on a 12-point run to close the deficit to 43-37 at halftime. Denver outscored Nicholls 54-42 in the second half to pull out a 95-81 win.

The biggest lead for Nicholls came on a 3-pointer by White to put the Colonels up 43-25 at the 4:49 mark of the second half.

Denver gained its first lead of the game since a 2-0 start on a jumper by Jaxon Brenchey for a 60-59 Pioneers edge at the 9:40 mark of the second half.

The biggest lead for Denver was 12 points at 85-73 following a pair of Tommy Bruner free throws with 1:24 left in the game.

The final six-point margin was as close as the Colonels would get down the stretch.

West led four Nicholls players in double-figure scoring with 22. White tossed in 20 for the Colonels, while Smith added 18, and Brown 10. West and Smith each had eight rebounds.

Nicholls was outscored 30-9 in bench points.