THIBODAUX, La. – Kalen Williams scored 31 for the Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team, who fell 85-70 on Saturday afternoon to Nicholls at Stopher Gymnasium.
 
The Lions fall to 10-18 overall and 4-11 in Southland Conference play, while the Colonels are 15-12 overall and 10-4 in Southland play, being tied for second in the standings. Nicholls took both meetings over A&M-Commerce this season.
 
There were just three lead changes in the game, and they happened in the first four minutes of the game. With the game tied at six at the 14:53 mark of the first half, the Colonels scored the next five and the game was not tied again as Nicholls' largest lead in the first half was 11 points.
 
A layup by Williams with 16 seconds left in the first half did bring the Lions to within four, but Nicholls answered on the other end to lead 39-33 at the end of the first half.
 
Nicholls led by as much as 15 in the second half, but the Lions did get to within six in the final two minutes, failing to make it a one-possession game at any point in the second half.
 
Williams scored 31 points on 12 for 20 shooting, totaling 30 points or more for the second time this season. Tommie Lewis (Vero Beach, Fla.) added nine points and six rebounds, while VJ Reeves Jr. (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) scored eight off the bench. The Lions went 16 for 22 at the line and shot 47.1 in the game.
 
Three of the five starters scored in double digits for the Colonels. Diante Smith led the way with 19 points and five rebounds, Rob Brown III scored 17, and Jamal West Jr. added 14. Nicholls had the 33-24 edge in rebounding.

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The Lions end the four-game road swing at Houston Christian next Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m., which is also the final road game of the regular season.