HOUSTON, Texas -- Emboldened by a string of notable successes over the past two weeks, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (6-5, 4-1 SLC) aims to wrap up the team's three-game road swing with a fifth-straight Southland Conference victory, squaring off against HBU (2-10, 1-3 SLC) on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Sharp Gym in Houston, Texas, tip set for 7 p.m.

WHAT: Nicholls at HBU | Game Notes
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m.
WHERE: Sharp Gym | Houston, Texas
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch | Listen -- 100.3 FM ESPN New Orleans

Following an impressive two-point holdout in Saturday's 74-72 barn burner at Central Arkansas, the Colonels moved one step closer to matching last season's notable 5-1 start in league play, tabbing the Huskies as the squad's final obstacle of the endeavor. Notably, though, HBU has proven tough for the Red & Gray to knock off in Houston, as the Huskies boast a 4-9 record at Sharp Gym despite trailing in the overall series 16-13.

Individually, powerful efforts out of redshirt junior transfers Ty Gordon and Najee Garvin have been the difference in the Colonels' run over the past two weeks, as the former has averaged 8.5 assists over the last two games in addition to securing the team's first double-double of the year at Northwestern State (17 pts/11 rebs) while the latter has notched four consecutive 15-plus point games, including two career-tying 19-point performances.

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 41-32 (26-17 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.

With the early-three game roadtrip out of the way, the Red & Gray return home for a well-deserved week at Stopher Gym, hosting in-state rivals New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 23 and McNeese on Saturday, Jan. 27.

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