THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will make the short drive to Hammond for a pivotal battle against Southeastern La. at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Colonels currently trail the Lions in the Southland Conference standings, but a win for Nicholls would move the Colonels ahead of Southeastern La. in the hunt for a postseason berth.
After downing McNeese State and Incarnate Word consecutively, Nicholls (7-18, 3-8 SLC) will fight for its first road victory of the season and first three-game winning streak since last March, when the Colonels ran off three straight victories and grabbed the sixth seed at the Southland Conference Tournament.
The Lions (5-18, 3-7 SLC) picked up back-to-back wins over McNeese State and Abilene Christian, before suffering a lopsided 88-72 loss on the road against Central Arkansas on Tuesday.
Nicholls averages 67.3 points, and surrenders 78.2. The Colonels shoot 40.8% from the floor and 30.2% from the three-point line, while allowing 45.8% and 33.5% respectively. Nicholls has a -6.5 rebounding margin and a -2.0 turnover margin this season.
While the Colonels possess pedestrian numbers for the season, they have played like an entirely different team over the last week, averaging 71 points, while holding opponents to just 58. Nicholls shot 45.2% from the field over that stretch, and racked up a dominant 78-26 advantage on points in the paint.
Southeastern La. averages 69.8 points and gives up 77.0. The Lions shoot 45.3% from the floor and 34.5% from beyond the arc, while allowing 46.4% and 41.8% respectively. Southeastern La. has a -2.8 rebounding margin and a -1.2 turnover margin on the year.
Ja'Dante' Frye averages team-highs in both points (13.8) and boards (5.2) for the Colonels.
T.J. Carpenter pulls down 5.2 rebounds per game and is second on the team in average points (12.6) and assists (2.8).
Schane Rillieux paces the squad with 2.9 assists per contest and
Liam Thomas averages a team-high 2.2 blocks. Thomas needs just five more blocks to tie the Nicholls single-season blocks record of 61, set by Ron Smith during the 1987-88 season. Thomas is also within reach of the career blocks record of 146, set by Cedric Robinson, who played for the Colonels from 1982 to 1986. Thomas needs just 12 more blocks to tie the career mark.
Zay Jackson spearheads the Lion offense with 12.1 points and 4.9 assists per game, while Keith Charleston grabs a team-leading 5.6 rebounds per contest. Jackson is the only Southeastern La. player averaging double figures on the year, but Jordan Capps (12.6), Jackson (11.9), Marlain Veal (11.2) and JaMichael Hawkins (10.9) each have earned double-digit averages against league opponents.
Following Saturday's ballgame, Nicholls will then have a week to prepare for a battle against conference-leading Stephen F. Austin (17-5, 10-0 SLC) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.
