THIBODAUX, La. - The first meeting this season between the Nicholls State University men's basketball team and McNeese will have title implications as the top two teams in the Southland Conference standings battle Saturday afternoon on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

The matchup will feature the second-place Colonels (13-11, 8-3 SLC) looking to gain ground on McNeese (22-3, 11-1 SLC). The teams will square off again on March 2 in Lake Charles.

Nicholls moved into sole possession of second place after defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday. The Colonels, Islanders, and Lamar entered the day tied for second at 7-3 but Lamar suffered a loss to UIW. McNeese stayed two games ahead of Nicholls with a lopsided 51-point win at HCU.

The Colonels were led in scoring by Diante Smith (20 points) and Robert Brown III (18) in Monday's win. The showing was Smith's fifth 20-point game in conference and he currently ranks second in the Southland in points per game in league play at 17.0. Brown is the seventh-leading scorer at 15.7, just ahead of McNeese's Shahada Wells (15.3).

Defensively, Nicholls held A&M-Corpus Christi to .386 from the field which was the best effort in SLC play for the Colonels. They also blocked seven shots, tying for second most this season, led by Mekhi Collins with three. Jamal West Jr. denied two shots and leads the Southland with 1.8 per game. 

McNeese brings the nation's best point differential to town as the Cowboys are outscoring opponents by 19.2 points per game. In their win at HCU on Monday, the Cowboys scored 100 points for the third time this season and second time in conference. 

Wells has been the front-runner for Southland Player of the Year, averaging 17.3 points, 4.7 assists, while ranking fourth in the NCAA with 2.9 steals per game. One of the key returners, Christian Shumate, is nearly averaging a double-double with 12.2 points and 9.6 rebounds. 

UP NEXT
Following Saturday's game, Nicholls will head to New Orleans to face the Privateers on Monday, Feb. 19. Tipoff at Lakefront Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.