BERKELEY, Calif. -- Following a positive 2-1 start to the 2020-21 campaign at the Bronco Invitational, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (2-1, 0-0 Southland) aims to wrap up the team's five-game, seven-day Bay Area tour with a pair of back-to-back victories, initially challenging Power Five foe California (1-1, 0-0 PAC-12) on Monday, Nov. 30, tip scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST at the Haas Pavilion, before making a quick turnaround a day later against mid-major power Saint Mary's (2-1, 0-0 WCC), game set for 9 p.m. CST at UCU Pavilion.

WHAT: Nicholls at California | Game Notes
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 30 | 6:30 p.m. CST
WHERE: Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch -- PAC-12 Networks | Listen -- 100.3 FM ESPN New Orleans

WHAT: Nicholls at Saint Mary's
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 1 | 9 p.m. CST
WHERE: UCU Pavilion | Moraga, Calif.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Listen -- 100.3 FM ESPN New Orleans

The Red & Gray managed to kickoff the season behind a 2-0 start, a feat unaccomplished since the 1994-95 program, as they posted an explosive offensive showcase in a 101-93 victory over UC Davis in the opener before completely containing Idaho State in a defensive lockdown two days later, claiming the win by a 70-51 margin. Notably, Nicholls saw nine different players make debuts donning the Red & Gray across the first pair of contests, including two who made their collegiate debuts.

Individually, the Colonels leaned on a trio of newcomers for offensive production throughout the Bronco Invitational, as redshirt junior Ty Gordon racked up a 16.0 points-per-game average while redshirt senior Jaylen Fornes and redshirt junior Najee Garvin posted 11.7 and 11.3 scoring marks, respectively. The latter also led the Red & Gray on the glass, pulling down 8.3 boards per game thus far, while senior Kevin Johnson has served as the team's top distributor (16 assists) and thief (12 steals).

COMPLETE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN
Roster | Schedule | Quick Facts | Record Book

• Austin Claunch remains in his third season at the helm for the Red & Gray, sporting a 37-28 (22-16 SLC) overall record with the Colonels.
• The team boasts seven seniors: G Kevin Johnson, C Ryghe Lyons, G Jeremiah Buford, G Andre Jones, G Jaylen Fornes, F Damien Sears and G Shawn Williams.
• This year's roster is highlighted by 11 newcomers, including: six transfers from fellow Division I collegiate programs, two who joined the ranks via JUCO programs and another trio who signed on directly from high school. Of the six DI transfers, three -- redshirt senior G Jaylen Fornes (UNC-Wilmington) along with redshirt juniors G Isaac Johnson (Western Illinois) and F Najee Garvin (Charlotte) -- are of specific note, as each enter the season with one full year with the program after sitting out 2019-20 due to NCAA transfer restrictions.
• This season's depth chart features seven players from across the state of Louisiana, a pair from Little Rock, Ark., and one from each of the following: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota and Texas.
• The Colonels were projected to finish fourth in the Southland Conference, per the league's preseason poll. Notably, Nicholls had yet to notch a single-digit ranking since the 2014-15 poll, in which the Red & Gray pulled off an eighth-place finish.
• Nicholls returns two of last season's five starters: senior G Kevin Johnson and redshirt senior G Andre Jones.

After wrapping up the California roadtrip, the Red & Gray return home for a well-deserved six-day hiatus before heading back out for a massive non-conference test at No. 2 Baylor, taking on the Bears on Tuesday, Dec. 8 in Waco, Texas.

STAY SOCIAL
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