Bryan Hammond scored a career-high 20 points to lead six Nicholls State players in double figures as the Colonels cruised past Loyola (NO) 92-76 on Friday night, snapping a three-game skid.
Nicholls State (2-6), which posted its highest point total since beating Dillard 94-56 on Dec. 16, 2010, shot 61.5 percent from the field in the first half (16 of 26) to lead 44-30.
After the Wolfpack of the NAIA, who counted the game as an exhibition, got to 52-44 with 13:58 left, the Colonels answered with a 10-0 run, sparked by 3-pointers by Shane Rillieux and Lachlan Prest.
Nicholls State hit 9 of 19 from beyond the arc for the game.
Prest finished with 18 points, Sam McBeath 13, Rillieux and Trevon Lewis 12 apiece and Chris Talkington 10.
Robert Lovaglio scored 20 and Corey Gray 17 to pace Loyola, which was 33 of 41 from the free-throw line.
