THIBODAUX, La.  –   The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will look to turn things around Saturday night as the Colonels host rival McNeese at 6:30 p.m. in Stopher Gym.
 
GAMEDAY INFO
Nicholls (10-11, 3-5 SLC) vs. McNeese (6-13, 3-5 SLC)
Saturday, Jan 28 – 6:30 p.m.
Thibodaux, Louisiana – Stopher Gym
Video Stream: Colonels All-Access
LIVE STATS  l   RADIO   l   VIDEO 
 
STORYLINES
- Following a quick start in Southland Conference play, the Colonels have dropped five of its last six games. Nicholls held an eight-point lead in the second half Thursday at HBU, but could not hold off the Huskies in an 83-80 loss.
- Johnathan Bell and Ja'Dante' Frye each scored 21 points at HBU, while junior Jahvaughn Powell had a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists.
- The Colonels welcomed back junior guard Lafayette Rutledge, who missed nearly two months with a foot injury. Rutledge made 3 of 13 3-pointers at HBU to finish with nine points.
- The last time the teams met was in last season's Southland Conference Tournament as Nicholls earned a thrilling 94-90 victory in double overtime in the opening round. 
 
NOTABLE STATS
- Ja'Dante' Frye leads the Colonels in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game. His average is good for fifth in the Southland. Johnathan Bell's 13.3 points ranks 14th.
- Nicholls ranks 30th in the NCAA with 8.2 steals per game. Jahvaughn Powell leads the way with 2.14 per game, which ranks 25th in the NCAA and Johnathan Bell is next with 2.00 (36th)
- Despite recording only one block at HBU, Liam Thomas continues to lead the NCAA in blocks by a large margin. He has 83 blocks for a 3.95 average. The second-leading shot blocker has 67 blocks for a 3.35 average.
- The Colonels made 60 percent (23 of 38) of their 2-point field goals in the loss at HBU.
 
MCNEESE PREVIEW
- Like the Colonels, the Cowboys started out 2-0 in league play but have since dropped five of six. McNeese fell at home against Northwestern State before suffering a 19-point loss at first-place New Orleans on Thursday.
- McNeese is averaging 69.1 points per game, which ranks 12th out of 13 teams in the Southland. Jamaya Byrd and Kalob Ledoux are both averaging over 10 points per game.
- McNeese's three conference wins have come against Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas.
 
SERIES
- The Cowboys lead the long time series, 48-37, but Nicholls has won five of the last seven.
- Since 2013, the Colonels and Cowboys have played a total of four overtime games, with two going into double overtime. In 12 of the last 20 matchups, the margin of victory has been 5 points or less.
  
UP NEXT
Nicholls will hit the road for its next three contests, starting Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Southeastern Louisiana. The game will tipoff around 7:30 after the conclusion of the women's game.