THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls Men's Basketball opens up 2026 at Stopher Gymnasium, hosting East Texas A&M at 3 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 3) before a Monday matchup against Northwestern State. 

Nicholls (5-8, 4-0 SLC) returns home after a successful Texas road trip where the Colonels knocked off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV in a pair of tight battles. The Colonels improved to 4-0 in the Southland, their best start since 1998, and sit atop the standings with SFA as the only undefeated teams in the SLC.

Free throw shooting and causing turnovers have been two key factors in the Colonels' success in league play. In the last two road wins, Nicholls made 15 of 17 and 15 of 18 from the charity stripe in the second halves to stay unbeaten in conference. On the defensive end, Nicholls has caused 63 turnovers for a plus-20 margin and has tallied 40 steals.

Sophomore Jalik Dunkley continues to cause problems for league opponents as he is now averaging 20.0 points on 71.1 percent shooting after his 22-point, 12-rebound double-double at UTRGV. Jaylen Searles is second on the team in league play at 11.0 points. After scoring one point in the opening win over UIW, Searles is averaging 14.3 points in the last three outings.

Nicholls has won five straight against East Texas A&M (6-8, 1-3 SLC), sweeping the last two season series along with a tournament win in 2024. The last loss to the Lions was on a last-second bucket in Thibodaux in 2023.

Ronnie Harrison paces the Lion offense, averaging 13.5 points in SLC play after scoring 19 in the loss to Lamar on Wednesday.

Monday's game pits the Colonels against Northwestern State (3-10, 1-3 SLC). Izzy Miles leads the Demon offense at 13.3 ppg after their four league outings.

NSU swept Nicholls last season including a 72-60 win at Stopher Gym.