THIBODAUX, La. -- Boasting now a six-game Southland Conference win streak and seeking the best league start since the 2017-18 regular season championship run, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (9-5, 6-1 SLC) closes out the team's three-game home stretch with in-state rival McNeese (7-8, 1-5 SLC), squaring off against the Cowboys on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at Stopher Gym, tip slated for 7 p.m.

WHAT: Nicholls vs. McNeese | Game Notes
WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 27 | 7 p.m.
WHERE: Stopher Gym | Thibodaux, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch | Listen -- 1600 AM KLEB

In just three short years, head coach Austin Claunch has managed to nearly restore the program to the point where his predecessor, Richie Riley, left it following the 2017-18 regular season championship, setting up the Colonels to potentially match that campaign's Southland Conference start (7-1) with a win Wednesday night versus McNeese, not to mention potentially surpass that mark moving forward.

Handling the heavy lifting will be redshirt juniors Ty Gordon and Najee Garvin, who have proven unshakably reliable across the Red & Gray's six-game win streak within league play, averaging 16.5 and 15.3 points per game, respectively, with the former pacing the squad in both assists (31) and on the glass (7.5 rebounds per game). Meanwhile, senior Kevin Johnson has been devastating to opposing offenses this year, racking up a conference-best 34 total steals and 2.43 average, good for 16th and 17th on the national leaderboards.

UP NEXT
Following the home stand finale against McNeese, the Red & Gray once again set their sights on a trio of road contests, heading west across state lines for Southland leader Sam Houston on Saturday, Feb. 6 before facing off with Lamar and rival Southeastern Louisiana in quick succession.

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 44-32 (28-17 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.

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