THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team continues its home stand this weekend, beginning on Thursday with the tough task of hosting the Southland Conference leader in Stephen F. Austin at 7:30 p.m. in Stopher Gym.
 
The game will be televised live on ESPN3 as a part of the Southland's television package this season, as it will follow the women's televised game approximately 30 minutes after its conclusion. The last time the Colonels had the television slot, they defeated Northwestern State on the road in Natchitoches.
 
The Colonels are facing their toughest stretch yet hosting the league-leading Lumberjacks tomorrow and second-place Demons on Saturday in Stopher, as the Colonels are desperate for a win to keep from falling to the bottom half of the top eight teams in the tournament push. Coming off of a loss to Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, the Colonels fell to sixth in the standings a game behind Sam Houston State and one game ahead of Central Arkansas. The loss to the Lions was the third-straight for the team, after a weekend sweep in January had the team 5-3 and tied with Southeastern for fourth.
 
Senior guard Fred Hunter moved into sole possession of first place as the league's top scorer, averaging 19.3 points per game so far this season, while averaging 20.1 points per game in conference matchups. Hunter scored 20 points for the third consecutive game Saturday, coming one rebound shy of a double-double. In 21 games so far this season, Hunter has been the leading scorer in 13 of them, with ten 20-plus point games and 15 double-digit scoring contests this season.
 
Since scoring 12 points against Sam Houston State in late January, Amin Torres has been on a tear scoring in double figures in four-straight contests. After scoring a season-high 17 against Oral Roberts, the freshman has been hot from behind the 3-point line, with 11 made baskets from behind the arc in the last five. He's been the entire scoring punch from the bench with nine double-digit scoring games so far this season, as 12 times he's led the Nicholls bench in scoring.
 
Stephen F. Austin has won its last three games coming into the weekend, and has a one-game lead over Northwestern State in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Southland tourney. The Lumberjacks are 20-2 on the season and are in the top 70 in RPI. Their only blemish in league play came at the hands of Northwestern State, while holding the rest of the league in check for most of the year.
 
The Lumberjacks boast the conference's player of the week in Taylor Smith, who averaged 21 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in wins over Central Arkansas and Oral Roberts, as the senior forward is the only SFA player to average double-figures in scoring this season. SFA beat the Colonels in their first meeting this season 72-49 in Nacogdoches, as Nicholls will be looking to snap a four-game losing skid to the Lumberjacks dating back to the 2010 season.
 
 
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
Live Stream: ESPN3.com
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