BATON ROUGE, La. -- Just a week removed from scoring an early-season signature win at Pitt, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (2-1, 0-0 Southland) shifts focus to the team's third Power Six opponent in four contests, opening a four-game roadtrip at in-state rival No. 23 LSU (1-1, 0-0 SEC) on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Baton Rouge, La. While the overall series tips heavily in the Tigers' favor (15-1 record vs. Nicholls since 1991), the Red & Gray managed to split the most recent pair of matchups, ending an LSU 82-game home win streak behind a 62-53 upset victory on Nov. 16, 2010

Three contests into the 2019-20 campaign, the Colonels have worked to follow through on their "spread the rock" offensive philosophy, as four different players -- Dexter McClanahan (16.0 ppg), Andre Jones (13.0), Elvis Harvey Jr. (11.3) & D'Angelo Hunter (11.0) -- currently average double-digit figures thus far. On the other end of the court, the Red & Gray have proven a nightmare for opponents in terms of maintaining possession, swiping an average of 12.0 steals per game -- ranked 16th nationally -- while forcing 21.0 turnovers per game, good for 20th nationally.

WHAT: Nicholls at No. 23 LSU
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 16 | 3 p.m.
WHERE: Maravich Center | Baton Rouge, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Listen | Watch // SECN+

COMPLETE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN
Roster | Schedule | Quick Facts

• Austin Claunch enters his second season at the helm for the Red & Gray, and currently sports a 16-18 (7-11) overall record with the Colonels.
• The team boasts five seniors: G D'Angelo Hunter, G Tom Clement, G/F Brandon Moore Jr., G Dexter McClanahan & F Elvis Harvey Jr.
• This year's roster is highlighted by five newcomers, as redshirt senior G D'Angelo Hunter (West Virginia), redshirt junior G Andre Jones (Arkansas-Little Rock) & redshirt senior G Dexter McClanahan (Savannah State) all became eligible following transfers from fellow collegiate programs while sophomore G Lorenzo McGhee (Columbia State CC) climbed aboard via a JUCO program & freshman G Tyrease Terrell signed on directly from high school. On the bench, senior F Jaylen Fornes (UNC-Wilmington), redshirt sophomore F Najee Garvin (Charlotte), redshirt sophomore G Isaac Johnson (Western Illinois) & redshirt sophomore G Lafayette Dorsey (Pacific) will sit out due to NCAA Transfer Restrictions.
• This season's depth chart features four players from across the state of Louisiana, three from Georgia, a pair from Texas and one from each of the following: Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Minnesota & California.
• The Colonels were projected to finish 11th in the Southland Conference, per the league's preseason poll.
• Nicholls returns two of last season's five starters, including junior G Kevin Johnson & senior G/F Brandon Moore Jr.

UP NEXT
After wrapping up Saturday afternoon's matchup at LSU, the Colonels must prepare for their most geographically-taxing three-game stretch of the season, initially traveling to Rhode Island on Tuesday, Nov. 19 for a matchup against the Rams before flying south into the Caribbean for a pair of contests at the Jamaica Classic: North Carolina A&T on Friday, Nov. 22 and UMBC on Sunday, Nov. 24.

STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Men's Basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_MBB), Instagram (@geauxcolonels) and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Athletics).