BATON ROUGE, La. -- Following a two-week hiatus due to COVID-19 protocol, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (2-3, 0-0 Southland) officially reenters competition with a major non-conference test at in-state power LSU (4-1, 0-0 SEC), traveling north to challenge the Tigers on Saturday, Dec. 26 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, tip scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Colonels are slotted to step in for Texas Southern after the program was forced to withdraw from participation after entering COVID-19 protocol on Thursday.

WHAT: Nicholls at LSU | Game Notes
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 26 | 1 p.m.
WHERE: Pete Maravich Assembly Center | Baton Rouge, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch -- SEC Network | Listen

Notably, the Red & Gray have yet to see any game action since the team's Dec. 1 battle with Saint Mary's, as they were forced to cancel five matchups -- including a road contest at No. 2 Baylor -- due to the NCAA COVID-19 restrictions. Prior to entering COVID-19 protocol, Nicholls worked their way around the Bay Area on a seven-day, five-game roadtrip, picking up a pair of victories against UC Davis and Idaho State at the Bronco Invitational before dropping three-in-a-row at Santa Clara, California and mid-major stalwart Saint Mary's.

Individually, the Colonels have utilized a variety of newcomer talent on the offensive end, relying on redshirt juniors Ty Gordon (14.0 ppg) and Najee Garvin (11.8 ppg) through the initial five games of the season, each of whom donned the red & gray for the first time just a month ago. Meanwhile, senior guard and three-year starter Kevin Johnson continues to dig into a number of individual career records, including steals (200, fourth all-time), assists (375, fourth all-time) and total minutes (3,114, ninth all-time).

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 37-30 (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 closing out the in-state battle at LSU, the Red & Gray head back to Thibodaux, La. for a back-to-back home-opening stretch against Paul Quinn College, hosting the Tigers on Dec. 27 & 28 at Stopher Gym.

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