THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team looks to keep its home winning streak alive as the Colonels welcome Southland newcomer Oral Roberts to Stopher Gym on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
 
In the middle of a three-game set in five days, the Colonels began conference play strong with an 83-79 win over the University of Central Arkansas on Thursday night. For the Colonels it was their fifth conference opening win in the last six seasons, a streak which dates back to the 2007-08 season. The also win snapped a seven-game losing skid that began in the month of December, and was one of the longest for the program in the last few years.
 
After two sub-par games, Fred Hunter returned to form against the Bears scoring 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting with six rebounds, four steals and three assists. The redshirt senior has led the team in scoring six times this year and rebounding eight times with his team leading 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
 
In all on the evening, four players scored in double figures as Jeremy Smith, in his second start of the season, finished one point shy of tying his career-high with his 16 points and five rebounds in the win. His seven buckets in the game was a career-high, as he scored six consecutive points in the early portion of the second half to spark a big Nicholls run.
 
T.J. Carpenter finished second on the team in scoring with 17 points on the night, none bigger than the two made free throws to ice the game with less than a few second remaining on the clock. The freshman was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc as he continues to be a consistent threat from deep. Shane Rillieux aided the Colonels as the line as he poured in a season best 15 points on the night, tying a career mark in made free throws in a game with nine on an individual season team-high 15 attempts.
 
Against ORU, the Colonels will go up against the heavy early-season favorite to win the league in a 6-7 Golden Eagles squad. Oral Roberts boasts the conference's leader in points per game in Warren Niles who averages 19.5 per outing already on the year.
 
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since January 1988, and the third meeting all-time with Oral Roberts holding a 2-0 advantage in the previous matchups.
 
 
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 - www.geauxcolonels.com/showcase
Live Stats: www.geauxcolonels.com