THIBODAUX, La. – After four games and two weeks away from Thibodaux, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team returns home for two games in Stopher Gym, beginning Thursday night taking on the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders at 7:30 p.m.

The game is Nicholls' "Stuff Stopher" night, as all fans are encouraged to wear red to the game. It will also be Faculty and Staff Appreciation night, with all Nicholls faculty and staff will get into the game free with their ID.

After playing two games both in the state two weeks ago, the Colonels got their first real conference road swing under their belt this past weekend, hitting Natchitoches and Nacogdoches to take on Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin. Nicholls split the meetings against the two teams separated by the state line, earning a 93-78 win over the Demons while falling to the Lumberjacks 72-49.
 
Nicholls is 2-1 in home games so far this season, with wins over UNO on Nov. 26 and against Central Arkansas to open conference play earlier this month. If the Colonels can continue their solid play at home, they would keep alive a streak dating back to the 2005-06 season that has the squad finishing with a .500 or better record in Stopher Gym.
 
For his efforts last weekend against the Demons and Lumberjacks, Fred Hunter was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 24.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over the weekend. The senior guard has scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games this season, and has seven this season and 24 in his career. His third-straight double-double against Northwestern State last Thursday was his fifth of the season, tying for the most this season in the Southland Conference.
 
Jeremy Smith continued his solid play as of late, scoring in double figures for the third straight game and fifth time in the last six contests. He's averaging over four more points and a rebound more in conference, as he is averaging 13 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this year in league play.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi enters the game on Thursday night sitting at 2-14 on the season and 1-5 in the Southland Conference. Of the two wins the Islanders have this season, the victory over Lamar two weeks ago is the team's only win over a Division I opponent this year, as the win over Texas Lutheran to open the season was against a Division III foe. The Islanders are also ineligible from the 2012-13 postseason due to low APR scores, and will not be able to participate in the
 
The Islanders are led by Will Nelson, as the 6-6 forward from Port Allen, La., leads the team with a 13.9 scoring and 7.6 rebounding average. With one of the youngest rosters in the conference, A&M-Corpus Christi only have two players scoring in double figures in Nelson and Johnathan Jordan, as the team is averaging just 59.8 points per game overall, and 60.8 points in Southland contests.
 
Nicholls holds a 7-6 advantage in all-time meetings against the Islanders, having won the last two meetings against A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
The radio broadcast of the game will begin with the Colonel Countdown pregame show, beginning 15 minutes prior to the start of the contest.
 
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV: None
Radio: 100.3 FM KLRZ (Larose, La); 1600 KLEB (Golden Meadow, La.)
Broadcast Team: Mike Wagenheim (play-by-play)
Colonels on the Internet: www.klrzfm.com
Internet Stream: Colonels All-Access - http://www.geauxcolonels.com/showcase
Live Stats: www.geauxcolonels.com