THIBODAUX, La. -- Just three days removed from powering past Central Arkansas in the team's home return this past Saturday, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (13-6, 10-2 SLC) shifts attention to yet-another season sweep opportunity of a league opponent, hosting HBU (4-14, 3-7 SLC) in the conclusion of a quick two-game home stand as the latter end of a doubleheader with women's basketball on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at Stopher Gym, tip slated for approximately 7 p.m.

WHAT: Nicholls vs. HBU | Game Notes
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24 | 7 p.m.
WHERE: Stopher Gym | Thibodaux, La.
MEDIA: Live Stats | Watch -- Nicholls Athletics | Listen -- KLEB 1600 AM

With the Red & Gray's ticket already punched to the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament later this March, the new focus immediately moves to improving the squad's future seed and potentially clinching the ever-elusive double-bye, annually awarded to the league's top two finishers in the final standings. Even though most scenarios lead to Nicholls locking in the No. 2 or No. 3 slot, the Colonels can still realistically secure the top overall seed as well, especially with fellow leaders Sam Houston, Abilene Christian and Stephen F. Austin yet to face each other on the back-half of the schedule.

As for Wednesday's matchup, the Red & Gray only need remind themselves of mid-January's solid nine-point victory at HBU for a solid formula to down the Huskies, claiming a 93-83 win in the team's top scoring performance of conference play thus far. On the court, senior Ty Gordon set the tone with a year-high 27 points while fellow senior Andre Jones quietly added 23 points of his own, helping the Colonels easily hold onto a halftime advantage for the eventual victory.

UP NEXT
With the Red & Gray hitting the final stretch of the 2020-21 regular season campaign, the squad next looks to a short roadtrip over to rival New Orleans for a Saturday afternoon tilt against the Privateers, tip set for 6 p.m.

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 48-33 (33-18 SLC) overall record with the Colonels.
• The team boasts eight seniors: G Ty Gordon, 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
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