Colonels roll, maintain first-place pace

Colonels hire new volleyball coach
February 14, 2018
VCHS still on pace in 3-peat quest
February 14, 2018
Colonels hire new volleyball coach
February 14, 2018
VCHS still on pace in 3-peat quest
February 14, 2018

First place met last place on Saturday afternoon in Stopher Gym.


First place flexed its muscles and did what one might expect – scoring a lopsided, dominant 27-point win.

Nicholls walloped Houston Baptist 94-67 on Saturday in a matchup between the top team in the standings and a team that’s near the bottom of the highly competitive league.

With the win, the Colonels complete the season sweep of the Huskies, while improving to 10-2 in the league – a record that’s pacing the conference heading into the week.


Nicholls led by seven at halftime, then dictated every facet of the game in the second half, outscoring Houston Baptist 50-30 in the final 20 minutes to secure the dominant, comfortable win.

“After halftime, our guys responded really well,” Colonels coach Richie Riley said. “Our energy was higher, our effort was a lot better and our focus was better.”

Nicholls was dominant offensively in the win – a trademark that’s been one of the staples of the team’s success this season.


The Colonels shot 57 percent from the field with five players scoring in double figures, led by senior transfers Tevon Saddler (22 points on 12 shots) and Roddy Peters (21 points on 13 shots).

Nicholls had 18 assists, compared to just nine turnovers, which allowed the team to roar to the big win – a victory that was far more decisive than when the two teams met in Houston. Nicholls won that meeting by just one point.

“The thing I loved most about the second half was how unselfish we were,” Riley said. “I thought guys turned down pretty good shots to give their teammates great ones and that’s what we want to be about.”


The Colonels led 44-37 at halftime, but there were hints of a struggle several times in the opening 20 minutes.

The Huskies pounded the glass and made things difficult for Nicholls early. The teams were tied at 29 at the 6-minute mark of the first half after Jalon Gates made a 3-pointer.

But Nicholls righted itself from there.


The Colonels ended the half on a 15-8 spurt to take the halftime advantage – a lead that quickly ballooned out to double digits and beyond in the second half.

Peters and Saddler dominated play in the final 20 minutes, combining for 24 points and 9-of-11 shooting – attacking the lane at will against a Huskies defense that didn’t have the athleticism to stay in front of the ball.

In one sequence, Peters got three-straight steals and three-straight slam dunks – all within about a span of about 30 seconds, which sent the game well out of reach.


Peters has been a force in the past several weeks for the Colonels – scoring 18 or more points in nine of the past 10 games.

He said the team’s motivation on Saturday was to show growth and maturity. He said to be able to blowout the Huskies are narrowly beating them in early January is a good sign for the team.

“We just wanted to show our growth from a month ago when we played HBU,” Peters said. “(We wanted to) execute and play our defensive pressure.”


With the win, the Colonels stay in first place alone atop the standings heading into a huge week for the team.

Nicholls will host Sam Houston State on Wednesday before traveling to take on Central Arkansas on Saturday.

Both the Bearkats and Bears are near the top of the league. Sam Houston is 10-3 and Central Arkansas is 7-5.


Nicholls beat Central Arkansas at home earlier this season. It will be the first meeting with the Bearkats.

COLONELS WOMEN SOAR

The Nicholls men aren’t the only hot team on campus.

The women’s basketball team is picking up a little steam, too.


The Colonels have now won three-straight games after whooping Houston Baptist 63-45 on Saturday in the first-half of the two-game doubleheader.

Nicholls struggled offensively early in the game, which allowed the Lady Huskies to take the game to the second quarter tied at 8.

But the Colonels controlled the action the rest of the way, using balanced offense and smothering defense to go up 25-16 at halftime, then 49-30 at the end of the third quarter to cruise to the win.


Vandebilt graduate Cassidy Barrios was huge in Saturday’s win, scoring a game-high 21 points, while also getting 10 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and four steals in 36 minutes – all team highs.

Three other Colonels scored in double figures, including Tykeria Williams (13 points), Tia Charles (11 points) and Marina Lilly (10 points).

Lilly was big in the second half, scoring eight points with four rebounds on 3-of-3 shooting.


The Colonels are now 6-6 in the conference – right in the middle of the league.

They will be on the road all week – traveling to Sam Houston State tonight before taking on Central Arkansas this weekend.

Kevin Johnson


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