LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Dantrell Thomas scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Jeremy Smith added 25 points Tuesday night as McNeese State beat Nicholls State 87-79 in overtime.

With his layup with 53 seconds to play in OT, Thomas scored his 1,001th career point, becoming the 24th player in Nicholls history to reach the milestone.

Shane Rillieux scored 12 for Nicholls State (8-8, 5-2 Southland) and Sam McBeath 11.

The lead traded hands 10 times in the first half and McNeese State led 44-41 at halftime. Nicholls State scored three quick baskets for a 47-44 lead in the second half, and the lead flip-flopped seven more times until Smith tied it at 72 with a layup and time ran out.

The Colonels ripped an 8-1 run in overtime and pulled away.

Keelan Garrett led McNeese State (6-13, 4-3) with 21 points, Ledrick Eackles had 17, Desharick Guidry 14, and Shaun Johnson 13.