THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will play its final two games inside Stopher Gymnasium as the Colonels look for season sweeps against Texas A&M-Commerce and UIW.

The Colonels take on A&M-Commerce on Saturday with a 3 p.m. tipoff or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game. Saturday will serve as the annual 'Stuff Stopher' game as well as Senior Day. Nicholls will recognize seniors Taylor Blanchard, Quinn Strander, and Jalen White before the game. Monday night's home finale against UIW is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Nicholls clinched its spot in the Southland Conference Tournament after its 12-point win at New Orleans on Monday. Now, while the Colonels still have an outside shot of the regular season title with McNeese leading by 3.0 games, a big focus will be securing at least a bye. The top two teams will receive a double bye, while seeds 3 and 4 will get a single bye. Nicholls, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Lamar are all tied for second at 9-4. 

In the win over New Orleans, free throws and rebounding played a big factor for the Colonels. Nicholls made a season-high 30 from the charity stripe, missing just four times, and had a plus-18 advantage on the boards. Robert Brown III, who had a game-high 24 points, was a perfect 10-for-10 at the line. He finished a point shy of his career high which he set in the home matchup against Lamar.

Byron Ireland also had a strong game offensively, scoring 21 points for his fourth 20-plus effort in conference. Ireland connected on 3 of 4 from three-point range, which was a career high in made three-pointers.

Although Nicholls picked up wins on the road against both A&M-Commerce and UIW, they needed a total of combined overtimes escape with victories. The Red & Gray needed an extra period to outlast UIW in San Antonio and not even a week later,  went two OTs in their win at Texas A&M-Commerce.

Both visiting teams will be shorthanded following Monday night's postgame altercation. Four Lions will be suspended for Saturday's game while UIW will also be without four players on Monday.

UP NEXT
Following Monday's game, Nicholls will end the regular season with three in-state road games at McNeese, Northwestern State, and Southeastern.