THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls Men's Basketball team returns to Thibodaux for its next two contests, hosting the Lamar Cardinals for a Saturday afternoon matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. following the women's game.

The Colonels (8-9, 7-1 SLC) will be looking to rebound from their first SLC loss which dropped them into a first-place tie with McNeese and SFA. The Lumberjacks head to Stopher Gym on Monday to wrap up the two-game home stand. 

Nicholls has a perfect 5-0 mark at home this season, including four Southland wins, but will need to change its recent misfortunes against Lamar (9-8, 4-4 SLC). The Cardinals have won the last five meetings, capped by a 58-55 win in the semifinals of last year's Southland Conference Tournament. 

The Cardinals are the lone team in the SLC that Nicholls has yet to beat under third-year head coach Tevon Saddler.

The two recent home losses against LU were by a combined six points. Lamar edged the Colonels in overtime, 78-76, in 2023 and escaped with a 78-74 victory last year. 

In Nicholls' four home SLC games this season, the Colonels are outscoring the opposition by 11.5 points. The offense has made 37 three-pointers at 36.6 percent, while the defense has allowed just 11 made triples at 15.9 percent.

Jalik Dunkley has been the top scorer in home SLC action at 16.8 points, but has missed the last two outings at New Orleans and McNeese. Jaylen Searles is at 13.5 points, followed by Sincere Malone's 12.5 ppg. Searles is the SLC's reigning player of the week after averaging 21.5 points last week.

Lamar features one of the league's top scorers, Rob Lee Jr. who is averaging 15.5 points. In LU's victory over Houston Christian, Lee poured in 31 points.

UP NEXT
Nicholls will take on SFA at home at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19.