THIBODAUX, La. – After more than a week away from competition, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team returns to the floor Monday night in Stopher Gym taking on the University of New Orleans Privateers at 6:30 p.m. in Thibodaux.

Nicholls last took to the court on Nov. 16, falling on the road to nationally-ranked Mizzou 74-54 in Columbia.
 
The home game marks the final contest in Stopher Gym for the calendar year, as the Colonels will spend the entire month of December on the road before returning to Thibodaux to open up Southland Conference play in January.
 
At 0-2 on the season, the Colonels have taken on two tough opponents from the Southeastern Conference in Missouri and Vanderbilt, keeping pace with both before faltering late. Against Missouri, the Colonels held preseason SEC Player of the year Phil Pressey to just six points, well below the 20 he averaged going into the game, unable to keep pace with the Tigers at the free throw line as Missouri shot 32 and made 23.
 
Nicholls senior Fred Hunter has led the team in both games, scoring more than 20 points in each. Against the Commodores he had 21 while scoring 22 against the Tigers. Hunter has scored 11 points in three of four halves already this season, as he is hitting 64-percent of his shots in games.
 
The Colonels currently have three players scoring in double figures early this season alongside Hunter, as Sam McBeath and T.J. Carpenter are averaging 12.5 points per game. The trio is in the top-15 in league scoring so far on the season which is second most to Northwestern State's four.
 
The Privateers enter the contest on Monday at 2-2 on the season in their final year as a Division I Independent, earning wins over San Jose State and Blue Mountain College. UNO will become a full member of the Southland Conference next season and will be eligible for regular season and conference tournament championships.
 
UNO is led statistically by Lovell Cook and Tommy Hobbs, as Cook averages 13.8 points and 26 minutes per game, while Hobbs is averaging ten points and five rebounds per outing.
 
In both losses, the Privateers have given up 70 points to their opponents, although on the year UNO is scoring 72.8 points while allowing just 65.5 to the opposition. All four games have been in New Orleans at the Lakefront Arena, as the game against Nicholls is UNO's first away from the Big Easy.
 
 
 
TV: None
Radio: 100.3 FM KLRZ (Larose, La.); 1600 AM KLEB (Golden Meadow, La.)
Broadcast Team: Mike Wagenheim (play-by-play)
Colonels on the Internet: www.klrzfm.com
Live Stats: www.geauxcolonels.com