THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will begin Southland Conference action at home against rivals Southeastern (Dec. 5) and New Orleans (Dec. 7) as the league office announced Friday its conference basketball schedules. 

The Colonels will play a total of 20 league games for the 2025 slate. Included in the schedule is UTRGV, which will be in its first season in the SLC, and Stephen F. Austin, which returned to the Southland after three years in the WAC. 

Led by second-year head coach Tevon Saddler, the Red and Gray will look to put another historic campaign under the nation's youngest head coach. Last season, Nicholls finished with 20 wins for just the eighth time in program history while Saddler set first-year program coaching records in overall wins and Southland victories (13). The Colonels placed third in the standings before going on to make an appearance in the SLC Tournament championship game. 

The home opening weekend is part of 10 total SLC games at Stopher Gymnasium for the Colonels. Nicholls will not return to Thibodaux to play again until Jan. 18 when SFA comes to town. 

The month of February is highlighted by a four-game home stand lasting from Feb. 1 to Feb. 10. Nicholls will face defending league champion McNeese (Feb. 1) to kick off the stretch before facing HCU (Feb. 3), Texas A&M-Commerce (Feb. 8) and Northwestern State (Feb. 10).
 
 The final home game of the season is scheduled for Feb. 24 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi while the season finale will be at Lamar on March 3. 
 
The 2025 Southland Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments will be hosted by McNeese in Lake Charles.