THIBODAUX, La. -- T.J. Carpenter scored 19 points and Liam Thomas added 10 more with nine rebounds as Nicholls State ran away from Incarnate Word 71-60 Monday night.

Carpenter hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, capping a 22-11 run over eight minutes for a 41-29 lead at the break. Neither team scored for the first three-and-a-half minutes of the second half until Thomas started an 8-0 spurt with a pair of free throws at 16:11 to spur the upset.

Nicholls State (7-18, 3-8 Southland Conference) shot 42 percent from the field while holding Incarnate Word to 31.5-percent shooting with 15 turnovers.

The Cardinals (12-9, 7-3) came as close as 64-58 on a Shawn Johnson 3-pointer with 1:33 left to play, but Nicholls State made 7 of 8 free throws to seal it.

Johnson finished with 17 points for Incarnate Word, Derail Green added 10 points with eight rebounds.