LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will look to improve against a strong non-conference opponent in UCLA with opening tip scheduled for 10 p.m. central time on Thursday at Pauley Pavilion.
 
The Colonels (0-1) opened the 2014-15 regular season with a 71-57 loss to the North Texas Mean Green in Denton, and the competition will not get any easier against the Bruins (2-0).
 
UCLA enters Thursday's contest seeking their third consecutive win to open the season. The Bruins defeated Montana State, 113-78, last Friday and followed that win with an 84-71 victory against Coastal Carolina on Sunday evening.
 
The matchup between Nicholls and UCLA will be the first in the history of the two programs.
 
Against North Texas, the Colonels knew that rebounding and free throw shooting would be the keys to victory. The Mean Green finished the contest with a 56-34 rebounding advantage, and made 34-of-44 free throw attempts, outscoring the Nicholls 34-10 at the charity strike.
 
Despite the rebounding discrepancy and poor shooting, the Colonels won many of the other major statistical battles, finishing with more steals, more blocks, more assists and fewer turnovers than North Texas.
 
The Colonels must show significant improvement in both rebounding and free throw shooting, while maintaining their high level of play in other categories in order to compete with the Bruins.
 
Ja'Dante Frye led Nicholls offensively with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the Colonels' first game. T.J. Carpenter paced the squad in both rebounds (seven) and assists (three), while adding seven points. Liam Thomas had three blocks on the night to lead the team, while contributing 10 points.
 
Norman Powell heads up the offensive efforts for UCLA, averaging 19 points per contest through the Bruins first two games. Kevin Looney leads the squad in rebounds per game at 11.5. Bryce Alford, son of UCLA Head Coach Steve Alford, averages 9.5 assists per game to pace the Bruins.
 
Nicholls will battle UCLA Thursday before flying to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to take on Wake Forest at 6 p.m. central time on Monday, Nov. 24.
 
Thursday's contest will be broadcast live on KQKI 95.3 FM and can also be viewed on the Pac-12 Network.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls men's basketball.