Erik Thomas, as has been the case so often in this special season, led the way for the Privateers with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Fellow senior Christavious Gill added 14, and senior Tevin Broyles had 12.
New Orleans led 35-27 at the half and extended the lead to 13 early in the second half, but Nicholls fought back to cut the lead to 2. The Bucs extended the lead back to 10, then Nicholls cut it to 3. Finally, they were able to clamp down late, hit some key free throws, and fight the Colonels off for good.
With the win, the Privateers (18-11, 13-5) secure the #1 seed in the Southland tournament next week in Katy. They secure the league's automatic NIT bid should they not win in Katy. It is the first outright league title for UNO since they went 18-0 in 1993, and it will be its first postseason appearance since 1997.
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