Rutledge leads Nicholls to 111-106 shootout win over UTRGV

Nov 11, 2017, 06:18 am

EDINBURG, Texas -- Lafayette Rutledge scored 23 points and Tevon Saddler and Roddy Peters each scored 19 to lead Nicholls to a 111-106 comeback win against Texas-Rio Grande Valley in the season opener for both teams Friday night.

Jahvaughn Powell added 18 points and Maurice O'Field contributed nine in the win. The last time the Colonels scored at least 111 points was against Loyola on Nov. 27, 1996 in a 112-70 victory.

After a Saddler dunk, UTRGV went on an 8-0 run for a 96-84 lead with 7:42 to play. But Peters reeled off four consecutive length-of-the-floor layups and O'Field hit a 3 to close to a point.

Peters made a pair of free throws and Powell hit a layup for 104-101 lead with 3:07 remaining and Nicholls never trailed again.

Xavier McDaniel Jr. led the Vaqueros with 27 points and 13 rebounds, Nick Dixon scored 17 points; Jordan Jackson, 14; Lesley Varner Jr., 13; and Moe McDonald 11.