ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Continuing their challenging non-conference schedule, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team will look to earn their first regular-season victory of the season against a talented No. 19 University of Michigan squad with tipoff scheduled for 3 p.m. central time on Saturday at the Crisler Center.
 
The Colonels (0-3) are coming off of a 75-48 loss to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Monday. The Wolverines (4-1) started their year 4-0 before dropping a 60-55 contest against No. 12 Villanova on Tuesday. Nicholls will look to snap its three-game slide, while Michigan fight to avoid a second-straight loss on Saturday.
 
The meeting between the Colonels and Wolverines will be the first in the history of the two programs.
 
Nicholls is averaging 59.7 points per game while allowing 84.3 over the first three contests of the season. The Colonels are shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from beyond the arc, while allowing 45.3 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three-point land. Despite the gap in points and shooting percentage, Nicholls has played well in the second half of all three games. The Colonels have been outscored by an average of just two points in the second period this year.
 
The most glaring disparities for Nicholls have come at the free throw line and on the boards. The Colonels are shooting just 25-49 from the charity strike, while allowing opponents to shoot 82-109. Through three games, Nicholls has been outrebounded 147-88. Michigan has a +8.2 advantage at the free throw line and +2.2 rebounding margin in 2014. The Colonels must improve both elements in order to put themselves in position for a win on Saturday.
 
Amin Torres leads Nicholls offensively with 11 points per game, shooting 46.7 percent from three-point land. T.J. Carpenter paces the team with 5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, both team-highs. Liam Thomas is second on the team in scoring with 9.7 points per game behind team-high 56 percent shooting, and leads the team with two blocks per game. Richie Lewis has grabbed 3.3 steals per game to lead Nicholls.
 
Zak Irvin heads up the offensive attack for the Wolverines, scoring 18.4 points per game. Caris LeVert has filled the stat sheet for Michigan, averaging 16.2 points while leading the team in rebounds (6.8 per game), assists (4.4 per game), steals (1.8 per game), free throw percentage (84 percent) and minutes played (35.8 per game).
 
The Colonels face the Wolverines on Saturday before returning to Thibodaux for a their first regular-season matchup at home this season, facing Loyola on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 4:30 p.m. in Stopher Gym.
 
Monday's contest will be broadcast live on KQKI 95.3 FM and can also be viewed on BTN Plus.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls men's basketball.