Nicholls Rallies Past Lamar in Southland Conference Thriller

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In a close Southland Conference matchup, the Nicholls Colonels came from behind to defeat the Lamar Cardinals 53-52 on a last-second layup by Trae English. Nicholls overcame a 23-20 halftime deficit, with Zee Hamoda scoring 11 of his 13 points in the second half to fuel the comeback. Braden East recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds for Lamar, who have now lost six straight games.

Why it matters

This win keeps Nicholls in contention for a top seed in the upcoming Southland Conference tournament, while Lamar's losing streak has them struggling to maintain position in the conference standings with just a few games remaining in the regular season.

The details

Trailing by three at halftime, Nicholls rallied in the second half behind the strong play of Zee Hamoda, who scored 11 of his 13 points after the break. The game came down to the final seconds, when Trae English drove for the game-winning layup with just one second left on the clock to give the Colonels the 53-52 victory.

• The game was played on Monday, February 23, 2026.
• Nicholls trailed 23-20 at halftime.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Nicholls will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a high seed in the Southland Conference tournament, while Lamar will try to snap their six-game losing streak in their remaining regular season games.