LAKE CHARLES, La. – It's been a rocky season for Nicholls State University men's basketball team, but the Colonels have a golden opportunity this weekend as the team faces McNeese State on the road at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with Southland Conference Tournament implications hanging in the balance.
 
Cowboys Head Coach Dave Simmons called this weekend's matchup a "must-win" and instructed his team that "the Southland Conference Tournament starts tomorrow." McNeese (6-19, 4-11 SLC) currently sits a half-game ahead of the Colonels (7-21, 3-11 SLC), and whichever program comes away with a victory will take a major step towards securing a postseason berth.
 
A win for Nicholls on Saturday would immediately put the Colonels ahead of the Cowboys in the league standings, but that would just be the start of a challenging road to the conference tournament. Nicholls has a tough battle against New Orleans at home on Feb. 29, and will face Central Arkansas on March 3 in Conway. The Colonels close out the regular season with a March 5 matchup against Southeastern La. in Thibodaux.
 
Nicholls will look to snap a three-game losing streak and a 16-game road losing streak with a win over McNeese. The Colonels are coming off of consecutive losses to Southeastern La., Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern St.
 
The Cowboys have dropped their last four games, falling to Northwestern St., Southeastern La., Lamar and Central Arkansas.
 
Ja'Dante' Frye leads Nicholls with 13.3 points per game. T.J. Carpenter averages 5.1 rebounds and Schane Rillieux averages 2.9 assists to pace the squad. Liam Thomas has 60 blocks on the season, and is only one block away from tying the single-season school record, set by Ron Smith over the 1987-88 season.
 
Jamaya Burr leads the McNeese offense with 15.1 points and 3.5 assists per game. Craig McFerrin averages 7.8 boards to lead the Cowboys.
 
The Colonels and Privateers will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 29.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.