BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After playing twice out west to begin the San Diego Classic, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team returns to the central time zone for the final two games of the classic, starting Friday against Bethunue-Cookman.
 
Friday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m., while Sunday's contest against Samford will tipoff at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
The Colonels are 0-2 in the classic after setbacks at San Diego (81-72) and New Mexico State (86-74). Nicholls trailed by one at San Diego at the half, and led by one at New Mexico but were unable to come away with wins.
 
Four players are scoring in double figures for Nicholls, led by DeAndre Harris at 16.5 points per game. Harris has been the sixth man for the Colonels, appearing in four of the five games. Johnathan Bell is second on the team in scoring at 13.6 and leads the team with 7.4 rebounds from the guard position.
 
Bethune-Cookman enters Friday's game with a 2-3 record and is winless in the classic as well. After falling to New Mexico State, 89-73, the Wildcats took San Diego to three overtimes, but came up short, 96-91. Brandon Tabb leads BC with 20.6 points per game.
 
Samford sits at 2-2 overall and split its two games of the classic.  Samford defeated San Diego by 18 to start the season before dropping a 58-48 decision to New Mexico State. The Bulldogs are led in scoring by Demetrius Denzel-Dyson and Wyatt Walker at 13.5 points per game.