Johnson hits winner, Nicholls edges Houston Baptist 77-76

THIBODAUX, La. (AP) — Kevin Johnson scored 19 points, the last two on a short floater with 2.4 seconds left and Nicholls defeated Houston Baptist 77-76 on Saturday.

Houston Baptist had taken the lead on a 3-point play by Ian DuBose with 12 seconds to go.

Brandon Moore's 3-pointer with 1:05 remaining, gave Nicholls its biggest lead, 72-72. Houston Baptist got one point back when Philip McKenzie grabbed an offensive rebound at 49 seconds and made the second of two free throws.

Nicholls had a chance to make it a two-possession game but missed the front end of a one-and-one at 24 seconds.

Jeremiah Jefferson had 17 points for Nicholls (10-7, 3-1 Southland), which was 10 of 24 from 3-point range and shot 50 percent.

Edward Hardt had a career-high 29 for Houston Baptist (5-9, 1-2), which was 3 of 13 from distance but had a 12-point advantage from the line.