LAS VEGAS – A layup with 1.6 seconds left sent Nicholls (2-4) past the University of San Diego men's basketball team (4-3) on Saturday, 72-70.
 
Fifth year guard Jase Townsend led USD in scoring with 20 points, making 9-of-15 shots to go along with six rebounds.
 
Senior Marcellus Earlington and graduate Jaiden Delaire each surpassed 1,000 career points in the loss, with Delaire notching 16 points and Earlington adding 13.
 
Graduate guard Eric Williams Jr. secured his fourth double-double in the first six games of the season, ending with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
USD drops to 4-3 on the season, and will return home to face Longwood on Monday.     
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego took an early 3-0 lead after a steal from Williams and a three-point play from Wayne McKinney on the first possession.
• Nicholls used an 8-0 run to take a five-point lead early in the first half.
• After two free throws each from Williams and Delaire, USD regained the lead with 4:57 left at 28-27.
• The Colonels ended the first half with a 4-0 run, and took a 42-37 lead into halftime. Nicholls shot 68% (17-25) in the opening frame, while USD shot 34% (11-32).
• Townsend scored seven points over the first 7:59 of the second half, helping USD tie the game at 50-50.
• Delaire surpassed 1,000 points with an and one with 10:48 left, giving the Toreros a 53-52 advantage.
• Buckets from Williams and Townsend, in addition to three free throws from Earlington, gave USD its largest lead of six with 6:57 left. Nicholls answered with a 7-0 run to regain the lead.
• Earlington tied the game on a put back with less than a minute remaining, and Townsend later tied the game again with a runner in the lane with 21 seconds to go.
• Nicholls made a layup with 1.6 seconds left for the win.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Townsend is second on the team with 16.7 points per game. He has three games this year with 20+ points.
• Earlington surpassed 1,000 career points in his 112^th game.
• Jaiden Delaire now has exactly 1,000 career points after his 125^th game.  
• Williams Jr. ranks top-5 nationally in rebounds per game (11.3).
• Nicholls shot 56.5% (26-46) in the game, compared to USD's 38.7% (24-62).
• There were 13 lead changes and 10 ties in the contest.
• San Diego held a 30-14 advantage in bench points.
• USD was 4-of-21 (19%) from long range.

 
UP NEXT
San Diego will return home to face Longwood on Monday night. The teams will be meeting for the first time.