THIBODAUX, La. (AP) -- Fred Hunter scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half as Nicholls State pulled away from Texas A&M Corpus Christi for a 69-62 Southland Conference win Thursday night.

Hunter scored eight straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers, to give the Colonels (5-12, 4-3) an 11-8 lead at the 14:41 mark.

Nicholls State held the Islanders to only two points for a 9 1/2-minute stretch en route to a 31-22 halftime advantage.

After the Colonels expanded their cushion to 17 points, Texas A&M Corpus Christi pulled within six, at 55-49, on Jelani Currie's layup with 5:50 left, but could get no closer.

Nicholls State outscored Texas A&M Corpus Christi 40-18 in the paint, but was outrebounded 36-29.

Dantrell Thomas added 15 points and Jeremy Smith 11 for the Colonels.

Johnathan Jordan scored 18 points and Will Nelson had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Islanders (2-15, 1-6).