Verner’s 17 helps Nicholls cruise past Lipscomb

NSU Sports Information Desk

Junior Gil Verner provided a huge spark for the Colonels off the bench with a game-high 17 points to lead Nicholls to a 72-60 win over Lipscomb Saturday afternoon in South Lafourche High School’s gym.

Verner, who was a point away from tying his career high in the victory, was also joined by four other Colonels in double-figures.

Following Verner was freshman Dominic Friend with 15 and sophomore Michael Czepil with 13. Junior Ryan Bathie and senior Adonis Gray each scored 10.

Gray also recorded a game-best nine rebounds (five offensive) in the win, which tied his career high in boards. He now has 1,043 career points and is 20th on the all-time scoring list.

“When we needed big plays, guys stepped up and made them. We really shot well, and needed to against a really good Lipscomb team,” said Nicholls head coach J.P. Piper. “I am really proud of the team in how they competed tonight.”

The Bison, who had won the three previous meetings against the Colonels, were led by Eddie Ard with 16 points.

The LaPlace native also had a team-best six rebounds.

The only other Lipscomb player to cross the decade mark was Brandon Brown with 11 points.

Nicholls compiled a 53.1 percent (26-of-49) field goal mark and posted a 47.1 percent (8-for-17) performance from behind the arc.

The only area that Lipscomb shined brighter than Nicholls was from the free-throw line as the Bison shot 75 percent (12-of-16) to the Colonels 70.6 percent (12-of-17).

The Colonels (4-7) jumped out to a 22-point lead, 36-14, at the 5:09 point in the first half, and went into the locker room at halftime up 40-24.

Gray had eight of his nine rebounds at the half-way point and Bathie was the only player at the mandatory break in double-digits with 10.

In the second half, the Bison (4-7) stormed back to cut the deficit to five, 40-35, at the 14:33 mark, but Nicholls went on a 14-5 run that started at the 12:26 point and lasted for more than three minutes to seal the victory.

Nicholls also outrebound Lipscomb, 34 to 27, with each team having 10 offensive rebounds.

The Colonels also had 32 points in the paint to Lipscomb’s 22 in the victory.

Nicholls State ventures off to No.1-ranked North Carolina today (Wednesday).

Tip-off will be at 8 p.m. in the Dean Dome and all the action can be heard on 105.9 FM KBZE starting at 7:45 p.m.