THIBODAUX, La. – After climbing their way out of league obscurity, only one win stands between the Nicholls State University men's basketball team and a trip to the Southland Conference Tournament. The Colonels will host a Senior Day battle against in-state rival Southeastern La. at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with a ticket to Katy on the line.
The future looked bleak for Nicholls on Feb. 27, after a heartbreaking last-second shot lifted McNeese State to a 71-69 victory in Lake Charles. The loss pushed the Colonels' road losing streak to 17 games, and set up what seemed to be a nearly impossible path to the postseason.
Nicholls (9-22, 5-12 SLC) would have to defeat a New Orleans team that had dominated the Colonels only weeks before. Nicholls would also have to pick up its first road win in 362 days, against a powerful Central Arkansas squad that downed the Colonels earlier in the season. Nicholls would then have to avenge a Feb. 13 loss to the Southeastern La. by picking up a victory in the regular season finale. Even if the Colonels met all three challenges successfully, they still needed more than a little luck. Nicholls required McNeese, New Orleans or Northwestern State to lose their remaining games for the Colonels to secure a spot at the conference tournament.
Defying all odds, Nicholls earned consecutive wins against the Privateers and Bears, while the Demons and New Orleans both went winless. Northwestern State and the Privateers will face off in their season finale, which means that one team is promised a loss. All the Colonels have to do is defeat the Lions on Saturday.
Southeastern La. (11-19, 9-8 SLC) has already clenched a the No. 5 seed at the SLC tournament after winning seven of its last eight games, and will look to play spoiler against Nicholls on Saturday.
Liam Thomas leads a stingy Colonel defense, averaging 2.5 blocks per game. Thomas has upped his game in league play, averaging 3.5 swats. This season Thomas set Nicholls the single game blocks record, single season blocks record and career blocks record.
Ja'Dante' Frye paces the squad with 12.7 points, while
T.J. Carpenter leads the team squad with 5.2 rebounds.
Schane Rillieux dishes out a team-best 2.8 assists per contest.
Adam Ward and
Johnathan Bell have been significant difference makers for the Colonels all season, particularly in conference action.
Zay Jackson leads the Lions with 13.2 points and 5.1 assists per game. Jordan Capps averages a team-high 6.0 boards. When Southeastern La. and Nicholls met earlier this year, Jackson scored a game-high 16 points, while adding five rebounds and four assists. James Currington and Moses Greenwood each pulled down nine boards in the game. Demi Cook contributed 15 points, with three rebounds and three assists.
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