THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will face a tough challenge on Saturday as they battle Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. in Nacogdoches, Texas.
 
The Colonels (7-15, 4-8 SLC) led by as many as 11 points in the most recent game against Southeastern Louisiana, but late mistakes resulted in a 65-59 loss in Stopher Gym. The Lumberjacks (21-4, 11-1) held a 19-game win streak before losing to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 71-63 on Saturday. SFA bounced back on Monday with a 90-76 win over Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Stephen F. Austin owns the all-time series against Nicholls 33-24, and defeated the Colonels 93-64 in the most recent meeting between the programs on Feb. 6, 2015.
 
This season Nicholls has averaged 62 points per game while surrendering 71.3. The Colonels average 42.9 percent shooting from the floor and 26.6 from beyond the arc while giving up 44.1 percent and 36.5 percent respectively. Nicholls has a -1.4 rebounding margin and -2.7 turnover margin in the 2014-15 season.
 
The Lumberjacks are ranked third in the Southland Conferee for scoring offense, averaging 77.3 points per contest and second in scoring defense, surrendering just 62.3 percent. SFA has a +15 scoring margin, including a 36-point win over Houston Baptist and a 41-point win over Central Arkansas. The Lumberjacks shoot an outstanding 48.1 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from three-point range, while allowing 43.3 percent and 32.6 percent on the year. Stephen F. Austin leads the conference in turnover margin (+3.9), assister per game (17.4) and steals per game (8.29). The team is eighth in the nation in assists per contest, 10^th in assists and 13^th in scoring margin.
 
The Lumberjacks have elevated their game in Southland play, averaging 84.6 points with a +19.4 scoring margin, while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from three-point land. SFA has a +5 turnover margin and is averaging 20 assists and 8.2 steals per contest in conference.
 
T.J. Carpenter and Amin Torres lead the Colonels offensively, averaging 10.1 and 10 points. Sam McBeath paces the team with 6.3 boards per game, while Richie Lewis dishes out a team-leading 2.3 assists per game.
 
Thomas Walkup is the spearhead of the Lumberjack squad, averaging team-highs in points (15.2), rebounds (six) and assists (3.2), while shooting a blazing 58 percent from the field.
 
Nicholls take on Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, before returning home to face Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23. Both games will be broadcast live on KQKI 95.3 FM.
 
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls men's basketball.