THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will attempt to put its last five games in the rear view mirror as the squad heads to Texas for a matchup with Incarnate Word at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the McDermott Center.
 
The Colonels (5-16, 1-6 SLC) will look to avoid their first six-game Southland Conference skid since 2007, and defeat the Cardinals (9-8, 4-2 SLC) for the first time in program history.
 
Incarnate Word is coming off of a 79-76 overtime loss at the hands of McNeese on Monday in Lake Charles. The defeat snapped a four-game conference win streak for the Cardinals.
 
Incarnate Word owns a 3-0 edge in the all-time series against the Colonels, including a 73-64 victory in the most recent meeting between programs on Feb. 10, last season in San Antonio.
 
Nicholls averages 68.0 points and surrenders 80.8. The Colonels shoot 40.4% from the floor and 30.6% from three-point range, while giving up 47.6% and 33.1% respectively. Nicholls has a -8.7 rebounding margin and a -1.6 turnover margin on the year.
 
The Cardinals average 74.8 points and hold opponents to 72.2. Incarnate Word shoots 43.5% from the field and 36.9% from beyond the arc, while allowing 45.0% and 35.6% respectively. The Cardinals have a -4.2 rebounding margin and a +2.8 turnover margin this season.
 
Ja'Dante' Frye leads the Colonels with team-highs in average points (15.4) points and boards (5.3), while tossing 1.2 assists per contest. T.J. Carpenter also averages a team-leading 5.3 rebounds and is second on the team in both points (12.6) and assists (2.7). Schane Rillieux paces the squad with 3.1 assists per game, while Liam Thomas blocks 1.8 shots per contest. Against Southland opponents, L. Thomas leads the league in both total blocks (24) and average blocks (3.0).
 
Kyle Hittle spearheads Incarnate Word with 16.0 points, 5.9 boards and 2.3 assists per game. Shawn Johnson averages 9.1 rebounds and Mitchell Badillo averages 5.2 assists, both team-highs. Badillo also leads the Cardinals with 2.2 steals per contest.
 
Following Saturday's ballgame, the Colonels will return closer to home for a battle with New Orleans at 7 p.m. on Monday in the Big Easy.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.