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This week was not friendly to the Nicholls State and LSU basketball teams.
Neither the Colonels’ men and women nor the Tigers’ men advanced past the quarterfinals in their respective conference tournaments – ending all three team’s NCAA Tournament ambitions.
The Nicholls men were the first team to take the plunge in a 62-59 loss to McNeese State last Wednesday in the opening round of the Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Colonels led the Cowboys 33-28 at halftime – a lead they stretched to eight points four minutes into the second half.
But McNeese State hung around throughout the middle of the second half and made a late surge – tying the game with 4:49 to play.
McNeese took its first second half lead with 2:41 to play on a layup by Dontae Cannon.
The Colonels tied the game with just more than a minute left, but never took back the lead.
The Cowboys built a 62-59 advantage in the final minute of the contest, but Nicholls had a shot to force overtime. A 3-pointer by Dantrell Thomas fell short as time expired, sealing McNeese’s victory and ending the Colonels’ season with a 9-21 record.
Senior forward Fred Hunter led the Colonels with 21 points and 14 rebounds in defeat.
Even with the lofty stats, the All-Conference standout said he wishes he could have done more.
“I think I had a good career and year at Nicholls,” Hunter said. “But I feel like I could have played better tonight.”
Nicholls coach J.P. Piper didn’t agree, adding he will miss the multi-dimensional star.
“I am disappointed that I am not going to be able to see Fred play again,” Piper said.
Like the Nicholls men, the Colonels’ women also said goodbye to an All-Conference senior from Texas this week following a loss to McNeese St.
Senior forward Alisha Allen played the final game of her collegiate career last Thursday, as the Cowgirls rode a hot start to score a decisive 86-70 win in the quarterfinals of the Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Nicholls never led in the game and trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half.
The Colonels cut the lead to six in the second half, but it quickly ballooned back into double digits, sealing the Cowgirls’ win.
The loss marked the end of Allen’s collegiate career.
She went out with a bang, scoring 17 points and grabbing five rebounds.
“I am grateful for being here,” Allen said. “Throughout the whole season, our goal was to win and get a conference championship. I am upset that didn’t happen, but I am very grateful for this season.”
Nicholls coach DoBee Plaisance agreed and said she was proud of her team for having its most successful season in school history.
“I am proud of the effort that my ladies not only displayed today, but they have all season,” Plaisance said. “That is what is so special about Nicholls and what is so special about working with these fine young ladies because they do not have quit in their tank.”
Unlike Nicholls, LSU won a game in the SEC Tournament, scoring a 68-63 win against Georgia last Thursday.
But in the quarterfinals, the Tigers’ luck ran out in a 80-58 trouncing by Florida – a game that ended the team’s regular season with a 19-12 record.
LSU started Friday’s game on level footing with the Gators – playing Florida to a draw for the first 10 minutes of the game.
But Florida closed the first half strong to take a 43-28 halftime lead.
They never looked back, leading by as many as 35 points in the second half.
LSU men’s basketball player Johnny O’Bryant rises above the rim for a one-handed finish. The Tigers won a game and then were defeated in last week’s SEC Tournament.
