The Nicholls State University basketball team took on rival University of New Orleans Monday night (Feb. 29).

“Both teams are desperate to get those last two wins to make it to the tournament,” center Liam Thomas said.

After the losses against UNO (53-74) and against McNeese (69-71) on Saturday (Feb. 27), it gave the team the motivation needed to fight for the win.

“In a weird kind of way [it] gave them the belief if they played a little bit harder, compete a little bit harder that we could find themselves on the good side,” head coach J.P. Piper said.
As stated in a previous interview by guard T.J. Carpenter, “We have to stay hungry for more wins, and keep going to not stay content.”

The Colonels stayed hungry for a win, after having a four-game losing streak; the Colonels beat rival UNO (80-76). With the win against UNO, the Colonels still have a chance at playing in the Southland Conference Tournament.

“We just had it in our mind to fight, fight and kept that mentality,” forward Ja’Dante’ Frye said.

Thomas set another record in blocks providing eight against the Privateers and gaining the honor of most blocks in the history of Nicholls basketball.

“It feels good to leave something behind when I leave here,” center Liam Thomas said.

UNO had a nine-point lead at the end of the first half, but in the second half Nicholls had a nine-point lead against the privateers.

“We take it one game at time. If we lose come to practice the next day and do what we have to do,” Frye said.

The game was tied 11 times with a change in lead 15 times. UNO had the lead for a total of 24:57 minutes compared to the Colonels 10:35 minutes. The colonels shot 53.3 percent from the floor compared to UNO’s 46.3 percent.

“T.J. played very well and with a lot of energy. He was kind of our emotional leader,” Piper said.

T.J. Carpenter had 15 points with seven rebounds and three assists, Frye scored 13-points, three boards and two assists, and Schane Rillieux with 12 points, two assists, a rebound and one steal.

“As a team we stuck together every time we got knocked down we came back whether it was back home, defense, offense or whatever it was I thought we stuck together as a team to get through it,” Frye said.