THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will look for its first 3-0 start in the Southland Conference since 2014 as the Colonels take on Lamar University at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12 on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium. 

Nicholls (7-8, 2-0 SLC) and Lamar (8-7, 2-0 SLC) make up half of the unbeaten teams in the league with McNeese and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi also sporting 2-0 marks. Nicholls has an overtime win at HCU and  a home victory over Southeastern, while Lamar secured home victories over Northwestern State and UIW.

After trailing for most of the game in their opener at HCU, Nicholls scored the game's first points against Southeastern on Tuesday and never trailed the rest of the night. While the Colonels have battled back from large deficits several times this season, they were the ones who had to fend off a rally by the Lions. Nicholls led 31-15 at one point but despite the visitors making it a one-possession game four times in the second half, the Red and Gray never let Southeastern take the lead or tie the game. 

Only seven players saw the court in the victory with four handling the bulk of the scoring. Diante Smith continued his stellar season with a game-high 18 points while Jamal West Jr. and Robert Brown III scored 16 each. Byron Ireland also reached double figures with 10 points and registered his first career double-double with 12 rebounds. Ireland stepped up on defense as well with five of the Colonels' 10 steals.

Since joining the SLC, Nicholls has started 3-0 just five times -- 2014, '01, 1998, '95, and '94. Two of the seasons, '95 and '98, resulted in the program's first regular season Southland championships. 

Lamar is 2-0 in the SLC after convincing wins over NSU (90-70) and UIW (75-59). LU had a common opponent with Nicholls in the nonconference, LSU, falling to the Tigers, 87-66. The Colonels claimed their first win of the season against LSU, 68-66. 

The Cardinals have four players averaging double figures between 12 and 10 points. Adam Hamilton leads LU in scoring (12.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.3). 

The teams split the season series last year with each team winning at home. Lamar won 69-66 on a last-second three-pointer in Beaumont while Nicholls came away with a 64-60 Senior Day victory. Before Lamar exited the SLC for a season, Nicholls swept the two previous season series. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls wraps up its three-game homestand on Monday, Jan. 15 against New Orleans. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.