KATY, Texas - A fourth matchup between the top-seeded Nicholls State University men's basketball team and No. 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will start the semifinal round of the 2022 Southland Conference Tournament Friday evening at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The two-time defending regular season champion Colonels received a double bye into the final four and will be aiming for their second straight appearance in the SLC's title game. Nicholls (21-10) claimed the top seed with an 11-3 conference record for consecutive outright season titles.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (21-11) moved into the round after hammering HBU in the quarterfinals Thursday night, 75-60.
Friday will mark the fourth meeting between the two programs, with the Colonels riding a four-game winning streak in the series. Nicholls defeated A&M-Corpus Christi in the second game of the Southland Tip-Off Event earlier this year, then won in overtime at home before taking the matchup on the road just nine days ago.
Nicholls is led by guard
Ty Gordon, who was named the league's player of the year on Monday. Gordon finished the regular season in the top 10 in the NCAA in scoring at 21.6 points per game as he repeated as All-Southland First Team in as many seasons. He was joined on the all-league squad by
Devante Carter (11.7 ppg/3.8 ast/2nd Team),
Latrell Jones (11.5/.496 FG%/3rd Team) and
Ryghe Lyons (7.6/1.9 blks/3rd Team).
The Colonels closed out the season winners of 10 of their last 11 games, which included the two regular season wins over the Islanders. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi also had a strong finish by winning five of six with the lone loss coming against Nicholls.
The Islanders feature Newcomer of the Year and second-team selection Isaac Mushila. In his first season on The Island, Mushila averaged an impressive 14.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He posted 13 double-doubles and despite being scoreless in Thursday's win, the Islanders still won handedly. Simeon Fryer had 16 points to up his average to 8.0 for the season.
