ESPNU will commemorate the 1993-94 Nicholls men’s basketball squad’s 79-76 upset victory over Auburn University on Feb. 9 as part of its “Pride of the Program.” Since Nov. 14 ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU have been airing 30-second segments recognizing important pieces of men’s collegiate basketball history at all 326 Division I schools. The clips have taken place in alphabetical order during each men’s college basketball game the networks have broadcast.
According to a University press release in the Dec. 1, 1993, issue of the Daily Comet, Terrel Castle led the Colonels with 27 points in the game, which the article says was “one of the biggest basketball wins in school history.”
Besides improving to 2-0 to start the season that year, the Colonels achieved their first-ever win over a Southeastern Conference squad.
“It was a landmark victory for the University, and it gave the basketball team a lot of confidence that it can go on someone in the SEC’s basketball court and get a victory,” former head men’s basketball coach Rickey Broussard said.
The victory occurred during Broussard’s fourth year of his 12-year tenure as head basketball coach at Nicholls.
According to the article, Nicholls played with a “three-man bench.” Broussard said starting point guard Ray Washington was serving in the Middle East when the game was played, and Broussard moved Castle, a junior college transfer, to point guard.
For the game, Nicholls converted 24 Auburn turnovers into 23 points.
“When the ball crossed mid-court, we’d press,” Broussard said. “The first pass they made, we’d double team (the recipient of the ball), and it really took them out of their rhythm.”
Down 51-45 with 13:41 left in the game, Nicholls came back to tie the game on a Castle shot, with 12:02 left on their way to a 57-53 advantage, according to the article.
Late in the game, Keldrick Porter fouled Auburn’s Wesley Person in the process of Person scoring, sending Person to the free-throw line. He could not convert the free throw, leaving his team with a 76-71 deficit with 26 seconds remaining in the game.
Porter made one of two free throws and Person connected on a three-pointer to make it a 76-74 game with 21 seconds remaining.
With six seconds left in the game, Porter made one of his two free throws from the line to increase the Colonels’ lead to 79-76. Auburn’s Leonard Smith shot a 25-foot three-pointer as time expired, but it was no good, giving Nicholls a 79-76 win.
Person led in scoring for the Tigers with 30 points.
Besides winning the game, Broussard said he remembered Tommy Joe Eagles, who was head Auburn coach at the time, as well as a good friend of Broussard.
Broussard said he was unaware of the piece of the game being celebrated, but said it was an honor.
“Those players are well-deserving of this honor,” Broussard said. “That team was well-put-together.
