NEW ORLEANS – In a fast-paced game of runs, Nicholls was able to escape with an 83-80 overtime decision over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program Saturday at Stopher Gym.
A&M-Corpus Christi (16-9, 3-5 SLC) led 68-56 with 9:43 to go in the second half when it went on a scoring drought of 8:50. During that span, Nicholls (16-9, 6-2 SLC) went on a 12-0 run to come back and tie it.
With the game even at 70-70, the Islanders had a chance in the closing seconds of regulation, but couldn't get the finishing touch on a drive to the hole.
In overtime, the Colonels were 5-of-8 (.625) from the floor, while the Islanders were 4-of-14 (.286). Still, A&M-Corpus Christi had a look to tie it at the last second, but a three-pointer was off the mark.
Senior
Simeon Fryer turned in a big night with a season-high 21 points and made a career-high five three-pointers. He was 8-of-16 from the floor.
Also with a big night offensively was junior
Trevian Tennyson with 20 points. Senior
De'Lazarus Keys reached double-figures with 10 points and eight rebounds, while junior
Isaac Mushila ended with eight points and 14 rebounds.
Nicholls was paced by Ty Gordon who finished with 21 points. Manny Littles posted 13 points and 13 rebounds.
A&M-Corpus Christi led 5-2 early after a hook shot by Keys, but the Colonels responded with a 9-0 run to go up 11-5 at the 17:27 mark. Still down 13-7, the Islanders went on an 8-0 spurt which included threes by Fryer and Tennyson to lead 15-13 with 15:09 left.
The back-and-forth runs continued as Nicholls used a 9-0 spurt to regain a 22-15 advantage with 13:31 to go.
A&M-Corpus Christi trailed 39-31 when it ended the half strong with a 12-2 run. A driving lay-up by Tennyson got it started and the Islanders started getting stops defensively in the last four minutes. A&M-Corpus Christi took a 43-41 edge into the break after a last-second tip-in by Keys.
The 12-2 run turned into a 19-2 spurt after the Islanders scored the first seven points of the second half as Nicholls called timeout at the 18:29 mark trailing 50-41 after a three-pointer by Tennyson. After Nicholls cut it to 56-52, Fryer hit back-to-back threes and Mushila followed with an inside bucket to push the lead up to 64-52 with 12:36 remaining.
Still in front 68-56, the Colonels went on a big 12-0 spurt to come back and tie it with 4:26 left. Junior
Jalen Jackson made a pair of free throws to go up 70-68, but Nicholls evened it again after a steal and lay-up with 33 seconds remaining. A&M-Corpus Christi held for the last shot, but a drive in the end wouldn't fall.
In overtime, Nicholls was a basket ahead the entire way. The lead was never more than one possession but the Islanders couldn't get the timely stop or timely basket to get ahead. They trailed 83-80 when they had a chance to tie it at the buzzer but the three-point shot was just off.
The Islanders will return home Thursday when they host Southeastern at 7:30 p.m. at the American Bank Center. The game can be watched on ESPN+ with
Steven King on the call.
NOTES
- The Islanders are now 10-8 all-time against Nicholls.
- It was the program's first overtime game since March 2, 2019 when it defeated UIW 74-72 on the road.
- Fryer topped his previous season-high of 18 points against UTRGV at home. His career-high is 29 points against Abilene Christian last season at home. It was the third time in his career that he scored at least 20 points. It was also his 15th career double-figure scoring game, eighth this second and second in a row.
- Tennyson buried a trio of long-range shots and has hit a three in every game this season. It was his third 20-plus performance, 15th double-figure scoring game and fifth in a row.
- Keys recorded his 11th career double-figure scoring performance and eighth this year.
- Mushila entered the game ranked 17th in the country in rebounding (9.7 rpg) and 17th in offensive rebounding (3.3 orpg) and will improve upon both tallies with 14 boards and five offensive. It was his 11th double-digit rebounding game of the year.
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