THIBODAUX, La. -- T.J. Carpenter scored 19 points to lead Nicholls to a 68-59 win over McNeese State Saturday.

Carpenter, who averages 8.9 points a game, made 4 of 9 3-point attempts.

The Colonels had control throughout the game. They had a 35-27 lead at the half. McNeese State closed to 43-39 at the 11:46 mark but Amin Torres, who finished with nine points, made a layup and a 3-point jumper to extend the lead to nine. The Colonels had an 8-0 run to lead 59-45 with 5:30 remaining. Ledrick Eackles and Shaun Johnson both hit a 3-pointer in the final 1:20 of the game, but that was not enough to close the gap.

The win ended a four-game losing streak for Nicholls (11-12, 8-6 Southland Conference). Jeremy Smith added 13 points.

Eackles was the only Cowboy in double figures, scoring 23 for McNeese State (8-18, 6-8).