THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will look to cap the 2012-13 regular season in style on Saturday afternoon, hosting the McNeese State Cowboys at 4 p.m. in the final home game in Stopher Gym this season.
 
With a win on Saturday, Nicholls will lock up the fifth seed in next week's Southland Conference men's basketball tournament beginning next Wednesday in Katy, Texas. The Colonels can finish no worse than sixth with a loss, as Southeastern Louisiana's win over McNeese State on Thursday clinched the fourth spot and a first-round bye.
 
After a tough loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last weekend, the Colonels responded in a big way by earning a 27-point, 90-63 win over the Lamar Cardinals on Thursday. It was the largest margin of victory as Nicholls has now won its last three against Lamar dating back to the end of last season, improving the team's record to 5-4 at home and one-win shy of double-digit wins for a sixth straight season.
 
Nicholls had arguably its most efficient win of the season last night, making a season-high 36 baskets on the night with a season best 21 assists. The team led by as many as 37 points towards the end of the second half, as four players scored in double figures on a 58 percent shooting night as a group.
 
McNeese State has lost its last two contests coming into the season finale against Nicholls on Saturday, as the afternoon meeting could be the first of two over the course of the next few days as the Cowboys will either be seventh or eighth by the end of play that day. The Cowboys have struggled toward the end of the season after winning five consecutive non-conference games before jumping into league play, sitting with a 12-16 overall mark and 6-11 Southland record.
 
Nicholls defeated the Cowboys 64-63 back in January in Lake Charles and has won the last two meetings dating back to last year, looking for a season sweep for the first time since 2010.
 
Before the opening tip the team will recognize outgoing seniors Fred Hunter and Linden Smith-Hyde in their final game in Stopher Gym as Colonels.
 
Smith-Hyde transferred to Nicholls from Vermont Tech in the 2010 season and since that time has been a reliable defender and scorer, playing in close to 50 games in just two seasons. The Sydney, Australia native has averaged 17 minutes a game during his career as a Colonel, starting 20 total games with his best overall game to date being a 15-point, six rebound performance against Central Arkansas last season.
 
Going down as one of the most versatile players in team history, Fred Hunter will end his career at Nicholls in the top ten in a myriad of categories since joining the team as a freshman in 2008. Currently the leading scorer in the Southland Conference averaging over 19.4 points per game, the Denton, Texas standout has set six new personal highs this season, but will leave in the top ten at Nicholls all-time in points scored, field goals made, field goal percentage, free throws made, defensive and offensive rebounds and steals. Even after a year off to rehab after injuring his knee at the end of the 2011 season, Hunter is averaging career-highs in points and rebounds, becoming only the second player in Nicholls history to start over 100 games in a career.
 
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
Live Stats: www.geauxcolonels.com