THIBODAUX, La. - For just the second time this season, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team will play in front of its home crowd as the Colonels host Elizabeth City State University on Saturday, Dec. 9 on Broussard Court in Stopher Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. or 30 minutes after the women's game.

Nicholls (3-6) won its home opener in convincing fashion over Blue Mountain Christian on Nov. 21 but have since dropped three straight. Following losses to ranked Mississippi State and Baylor, the Colonels fell last Saturday at Louisiana Tech in a 68-55 decision.

The offense has had success behind the three-point line as the Colonels have the second most made three-pointers (83) in the Southland Conference, trailing only Texas A&M-Commerce's 88 but the Lions have played one more game. Nicholls also ranks third in the league in three-point percentage, shooting 35.5 percent from long range. After his 4-for-6 effort at Louisiana Tech, Jalen White upped his percentage to a league-best 43.1. White is the third-leading scorer for the Colonels at 11.7 points per game, with Jamal West Jr. leading the squad at 16.7.

Elizabeth City State comes to town with a 3-6 record as well. A Division II program out of the CIAA, the matchup against the Colonels is the Vikings' lone game against a DI squad this season.

Like Nicholls. ECSU will be looking to snap a three-game skid. They last played on Nov. 30 and were defeated, 86-78, at Chowan University.

The Vikings feature three players average double figures -- Jaquantae Harris (13.3 ppg), Tre Richardson (11.4) and Michael Eads Jr. (10.9). Harris scored a season-high 25 points in Elizabeth City State's 70-65 win over Newberry. 

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Nicholls will have just one more home game before conference play, hosting the University of Mobile on Dec. 30. Following Saturday's game, the Colonels will have a week off before hitting the road to play at Maryland (Dec. 19) and Towson (Dec. 22).