NATCHITOCHES, La. -- Ryan Bathie scored 20 points to lead Nicholls State to a 69-60 victory over Northwestern State on Saturday.
Anatoly Bose added 18 points for the Colonels (8-6, 1-0 Southland Conference), who had a season-high 20 steals. Northwestern State (8-8, 0-1), which has lost four straight games, also committed 25 turnovers, leading to 24 points for Nicholls State.
The Colonels led 63-60 with 1:09 remaining before Justin Payne, who had six steals, hit four consecutive free throws for a 67-60 lead with 17 seconds left.
Northwestern State missed three 3-point attempts in the final minute and was just 4 of 15 from behind the line for the game.
Bathie led the Colonels with seven rebounds and Dominic Friend added 11 points.
Kalem Porterie led Northwestern State with 14 points. Michael McConathy scored 13 and Damon Jones added 10 points.