THIBODAUX, La. - After nine days off for finals, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team returns to the hardwood to take on the University of Maryland -- the first of a two-game swing in the state.

Tipoff on Tuesday, Dec. 19 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. central. The game will air on the B1G Network and can also be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM. 

Nicholls (4-6) already has a win over a P5 program, LSU, which was head coach Tevon Saddler's first career victory. The win was also the first of two road wins this season, with the other coming in triple overtime at South Alabama.

Tuesday's game will serve as a Homecoming as Coach Saddler is a Maryland native and was with the Terps' coaching staff last season. Jamal West Jr., Byron Ireland and Michael Gray Jr. are also from the area. Nicholls will play a second game in Maryland on Friday as the Colonels take on Towson. 

Ireland, a native of Annapolis, is coming off a career game where he scored 25 points in the Colonels' 84-70 win over Elizabeth City State on Dec. 9. After missing the first six games with an injury, Ireland ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game. West, a native of Baltimore, scored 17 in the last outing and leads Nicholls at 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds. 

Maryland (6-4) has won five of its last six, coming off a lopsided 105-65 victory over Alcorn on Dec. 12. The Terrapins made a season-high 14 three-pointers in the win as they scored 100 points for the second time in the last four games. 

The Terps feature a scoring combo of Jahmir Young (17.2 ppg) and Julian Reese (15.8). Reese, who attended the same high school, St. Frances Academy, as West and Ireland, has caused problems inside for opponents with 19 blocks to go along with a 9.9 rebound average. 

The Colonels have never defeated a program from the Big 10 Conference with their last matchups coming in the 2021-22 season. Nicholls nearly knocked off Wisconsin in a 71-68 loss before falling in a high-scoring affair at No. 3 Purdue, 103-90. 

Nicholls and Maryland have only played once prior, back in the 2005-06 season. The Colonels trailed just 36-30 at the break but the Terrapins opened the half with a 16-0 run en route to an 88-56 victory.  

UP NEXT
Nicholls will wrap up it two-game Maryland trip with a matchup against Towson on Friday, Nov. 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. central.