Game Notes Nov. 12, 2010 at Houston

THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team launches its 30th NCAA Division I campaign on Friday when the Colonels head to the University of Houston for the 2010-11 opener for both teams at 7 p.m. in Hofheinz Pavilion.

Nicholls, which began moving up from NCAA Division II in 1980-81, will look to avenge a 92-60 loss at the hands of the Cougars last season in what was the first ever meeting between the two schools.

The Colonels enter the 2010-11 season ranked among the league favorites in the Southland Conference.  Nicholls was picked to win the Southland's East Division in the league's preseason coach's poll after returning three starters, including Anatoly Bose from last year's team.

Bose, an automatic selection to the Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team, is coming off a banner 2009-10 campaign.  The Sydney, Australia native turned in a 21.1 point/game scoring average last season, ranking 17th in the nation in that category, en route to being named first team All-Southland Conference, first team All-Louisiana and first team All-Region 23. 

Bose recorded 20 or more points in 20 of the Colonels' 30 contests last season, including a pair of 40 point games.  Bose's next 20-point game will be the 30th of his career.  The senior guard/forward enters the 2010-11 campaign needing three rebounds and 568 points to become just the third Colonel in school history with 2,000 career points and 500 career rebounds.

Bose is joined by junior guard/forward Fred Hunter, an honorable mention All-Southland and third team All-Louisiana selection that averaged 13.8 points per game last season.  Hunter will try to repeat the success that he found at Houston last season when the Denton, Texas led the Colonels with 24 points and eight rebounds against the Cougars in the last meeting between the two schools.

Friday's match-up opens a three-game season-opening road trip for the Colonels.  Following the Colonels' tilt with the Cougars, Nicholls will return to Louisiana with a trip to LSU on Nov. 16.  The Colonels will then visit Oklahoma State on Nov. 21 before returning to Thibodaux to open the home portion of the 2010-11 schedule by welcoming Tulane to Stopher Gym for the first time in 19 seasons.

Friday's tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Hofheinz Pavillion.  The game will be broadcast in the New Orleans-Houma-Thibodaux area on KLRZ 100.3 FM.