HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will close out its three-game Texas road swing in Huntsville, as the squad faces Sam Houston at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.
 
After a slow start on Saturday, the Colonels (5-13, 1-3 SLC) put together a furious second-half comeback that fell just short against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the American Bank Center.
 
The Bearkats (9-9, 4-1 SLC) opened Southland Conference play with four straight wins, before falling to McNeese State, 72-68, on Saturday.
 
Sam Houston holds a 27-22 advantage in the all-time series against Nicholls. The Bearkats won the last two meetings against the Colonels, including a 62-39 victory last season in Thibodaux.
 
Nicholls averages 66.0 points and surrenders 79.3 per contest. The Colonels shoot 39.3% from the floor and 29.6% from three-point range, while allowing 47.2% and 31.0% respectively. Nicholls has a -9.3 rebounding margin and a -1.2 turnover margin this season.
 
Sam Houston averages 74.9 points and allows 71.9 per game. The Bearkats shoot 42.0% from the field and 31.9% from beyond the arc, while holding opponents to 43.7% and 35.3% respectively. Sam Houston has a +3.4 rebounding margin and a +1.8 turnover margin on the year.
 
Ja'Dante' Frye leads Nicholls in average points (16.6), boards (5.4) and steals (1.2). Frye is coming off of a career-high 29 points against the Islanders. T.J. Carpenter paces the Colonel offense with 2.7 assists per contest, and is second in average points (12.1) and rebounds (5.3). Liam Thomas averages a team-high 1.7 blocks, and is coming off of a career-high 17 points against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
Aurimas Majauskas (14.7 points), Torry Butler (6.6 rebounds) and Jamal Williams (4.6 assists) lead the Bearkats.
 
Nicholls will host Central Arkansas at 3 p.m. on Saturday live on ESPN.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.