NSU off to slow start in Southland, falls to 1-2

Racking up 20 turnovers, a zero-percent shooting percentage from three-point range, failing to rebound and missing layups are clearly not the way for a team to hold on to a seven-point lead in the second half of a basketball game.

Despite outshooting the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners 44 to 33 percent on the night, the Colonels failed to capitalize on a solid defensive effort as the Roadrunners rallied to win, 62-55.

The Colonels’ defense forced 17 Roadrunner turnovers, but managed only to net 12 points in exchange.

Colonels’ head coach J.P. Piper said converting in crunch time, especially in a tournament atmosphere, is essential to win.

“The 20 turnovers are way too many,” he said. “The 15 offensive rebounds we gave up really hurt us. At some critical stretches in the game, when we were really defending very well, they just out-hustled us to some loose balls.”

“This is the type of game that puts you to the test,” he added. “It was two teams undefeated in conference fighting to stay that way. Certainly exciting, just not the result we had anticipated.”

The Colonels are 8-8 for the year, 1-2 in Southland Conference play. The team generally averages seven three-pointers per game, but went scoreless against the Roadrunners from behind the line.

However, Piper said that doesn’t bother him. He was more upset with the layups the Colonels did not convert.

“Oddly enough, the 0-for-10 (from the three-point line) doesn’t concern me as much as the eight or nine layups that we missed over the course of the game,” he said. “We make four more layups, and we may have a chance to win.”

Piper’s team did not go to the free throw line once in the first half, nor did they finish with more steals than the Roadrunners. The Colonels rank sixth in the nation in steals, averaging 14 a game. But they finished last Wednesday night’s game with half that – seven – and went 13-17 (76 percent) from the free throw line.

The Colonels were coming off a fresh 69-60 win against Northwestern State in Natchitoches four days before.

“I didn’t ask them to go 16-0 in conference,” Piper said. “I think we have a very good basketball team. I was really worried about how we would handle ourselves after the win (against Northwestern State). I thought we were vulnerable. I hate to say it, but I think winning that game affected the thought process going into this game. It’s something we will have to work on.”

The Colonels failed to rebound from the loss, as their shooting woes continued in their 55-40 loss to Stephen F. Austin Saturday. In that game, the Colonels shot just 35.3 percent from field goal range and committed 11 turnovers in the first half alone.

Piper admitted that both losses should be an eye-opener for his team and a true test of their composure. He said any team who can bounce back from tough losses is the mark of a good team.

“We are still young enough that one or two plays could mean the game,” he explained. “We have to get better. I expect them to come back to practice with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder and get ready for the next one.”

If they do, Piper is confident his team can make a run at the conference title. Tonight, they face Central Arkansas at home.