THIBODAUX, La. – Behind a trio of guards in double figures, Nicholls held off a late Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rally to topple the Islanders 68-64 inside Stopher Gymnasium. The loss sends the Islanders to 0-2 in Southland Conference play for the first time since 20012-13.
Rashawn Thomas recorded his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 19 points while matching a season-high by securing 12 boards. The 19 points also marked a milestone as Thomas becomes just the second Islander to score 1,500 points in his career, joining former guard John Jordan.
Ehab Amin led the Islanders (7-6, 0-2), pouring in 25 points for a second consecutive game. It's the third straight 20-point night for Amin who supplemented the effort with seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
"We got out to a 20-10 lead early on and then we just hit a wall," said head coach
Willis Wilson. "We hit a wall and did not perform. They closed out the half on a huge 21-8 run and then it took us forever in that second half to get going again. When we did, it was too little, too late."
But it was the trio of Colonels guards who stole the show Monday night as Ja'Dante' Frye hung 18 points on the board to lead Nicholls (9-6, 2-0). Fellow frontcourt member and reigning Southland Player of the Week DeAndre Harris scored 16 while Jahvaughn Powell added 14.
Jake Kocher connected on a pair of threes and hit 5-of-7 from the floor to add 12 to the Islanders' effort.
Joseph Kilgore scored eight as just four Islanders found points Monday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Islanders built a 20-10 lead midway through the first half, but were held without a bucket for the next 6:07. Nicholls took advantage, going on a 13-0 run to seize the lead.
"We were settling," said Wilson. "We were tentative and we just did not execute the way we needed to in order to get the job done."
Trailing 31-28 at half, the Islanders converted a pair of quick buckets out of the break, capped by an Amin steal and lay-in to retake the lead 32-31. Nicholls responded with a 7-0 run and the Islanders never led again.
Twice Nicholls extended their lead to 11 points, but the Islanders clawed back, cutting it all the way to three at 67-64 with 2:17 to play. Three consecutive empty possessions for the Blue and Green thwarted any comeback attempt as Johnathan Bell iced it away with a single free throw.
TIP-INS
• A&M-Corpus Christi outshot Nicholls, hitting 50-percent from the field and knocking down eight more buckets than the Colonels.
• Nicholls held a 19-3 advantage at the free throw line as the Islanders attempted just four freebies all night.
• Now at four games, the Islanders' losing streak is the longest since an eight-game rut in November and December 2013.
• With his five steals, Amin should retake the national lead in thefts per game.
• Amin's night is only the second 25 point, five rebound, five assist and five steal night in the country this season.
RALLY BACK HOME
The Islanders will look to snap the skid Saturday versus Northwestern State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the American Bank Center.
