THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — Nicholls State edged Northwestern State 74-72 on Monday night at Stopher Gym after two decisive free throws with 5 seconds remaining. The Colonels led 40-31 at halftime but the Demons surged in the second half, setting up a tense finish. Micah Thomas led all scorers with 29 points for Northwestern State. Nicholls State’s Jaylen Searles scored 18 points and Jalik Dunkley added 17. The Colonels improved to 7-8, while the Demons fell to 4-11 in front of 511 fans.

THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — In a frantic Southland Conference clash that came down to the final seconds, Nicholls State survived a heroic performance by Northwestern State’s Micah Thomas, edging the Demons 74-72 on Monday night at Stopher Gym. The game was decided at the free-throw line in the closing moments. With the score tied at 71 and 19 seconds remaining, Nicholls State’s Sincere Malone was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to put the Colonels ahead 73-71. On the ensuing possession, Thomas, who finished with a game-high 29 points, drove the lane and hit a pull-up jumper to knot the score at 73 with just 11 seconds left. The drama escalated immediately. On the inbounds play, Northwestern State’s Izzy Miles was called for a foul on Jalin Rice, sending the Colonels’ guard to the line with five seconds on the clock. Rice missed the first attempt but made the second, giving Nicholls State a tenuous 74-73 lead. Northwestern State, out of timeouts, rushed the ball upcourt, but Chip Brunt’s desperation three-pointer at the buzzer missed, sealing the Colonels’ victory before an announced crowd of 511. The final sequence capped a second half defined by Northwestern State’s relentless pursuit. Nicholls State (7-8, 2-0 Southland) had taken control in the opening period, using a 12-2 run late to build a 40-31 halftime advantage. The Colonels’ lead ballooned to 14 points early in the second half before the Demons began their methodical comeback. Fueled by Thomas and Willie Williams, who added 14 points and four assists, Northwestern State (4-11, 1-1) chipped away. A 10-2 Demons run, capped by a Thomas three-pointer, cut the deficit to 59-57 with just over nine minutes to play. The teams traded blows down the stretch, with neither leading by more than four points in the final seven minutes, setting the stage for the tense finish. Nicholls State’s victory was a product of balanced scoring and key contributions throughout the lineup. Jaylen Searles led the Colonels with 18 points, including three three-pointers, and added three assists. Jalik Dunkley, a 6-foot-7 forward from Hamilton, Canada, was a force inside with 17 points, while Jalin Rice provided a crucial 12 points off the bench. Sincere Malone facilitated the offense with eight points and three assists, including the game-winning free throws. The Colonels shot efficiently from the floor, overcoming a shaky night at the free-throw line where they left several points unclaimed. Northwestern State, meanwhile, relied heavily on its starting backcourt of Thomas and Williams, who combined for 43 of the team’s 72 points. Izzy Miles contributed 14 points for the Demons. The win keeps Nicholls State unbeaten in early conference play, while Northwestern State sees a two-game win streak snapped after a victory over New Orleans on Saturday. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Natchitoches on Feb. 2. Nicholls State travels to face New Orleans on Saturday. Northwestern State returns home to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the same day.

THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — A pair of Southland Conference teams looking to build momentum will meet Monday when the Nicholls State Colonels host the Northwestern State Demons at Stopher Gym. The Colonels (6-8) enter on a three-game winning streak, most recently an 80-58 home victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday. Nicholls State has found success in league play, also securing road wins at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas-Rio Grande Valley last week. Northwestern State (4-10) snapped a two-game skid with a 74-68 home win over New Orleans on Saturday. The Demons will aim to carry that energy into their first conference road game. A key matchup will be in the paint, where Northwestern State’s Willie Williams has emerged as a force. The forward is coming off a dominant 13-point, 13-rebound double-double in 25 minutes against New Orleans. Over his last three games, Williams is averaging 11.0 points and 12.0 rebounds. Containing him will be a primary focus for a Nicholls State defense that held its last opponent to 58 points. The Demons’ offense runs through Williams and guard Chris Mubiru, who scored a team-high 16 points in the win over New Orleans. Northwestern State has shown explosiveness, scoring 108 points in a win over Southern-N.O. on Dec. 20, but has also been held under 65 points in four of its 10 losses. Nicholls State’s offense has been balanced during its streak, with Sincere Malone, Jaylen Searles and Christian Winborne leading the way in the recent win. The Colonels have proven capable on both ends, averaging 76.3 points per game during their current run while tightening their defense. Monday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools, with the rematch set for Feb. 2 in Natchitoches. For now, both seek an early conference victory to set the tone for the January schedule. Tipoff is set for Monday night in Thibodaux.