THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will wrap up the first half of its Southland Conference slate with a trip to Hammond, Louisiana to take on the Southeastern Lions on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Tipoff has been moved up to 1:30 p.m. following the women's game which will start at 11 a.m. The times were altered due to wintry weather in the forecast.
After starting conference with a 7-0 record, the Colonels (8-11, 7-3 SLC) will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Nicholls suffered its first loss at McNeese before falling at home to Lamar and first-place Stephen F. Austin.
Nicholls won its first three road SLC games before the McNeese setback. The Colonels swept their south Texas road swing and knocked off New Orleans for the 3-0 road start.
For the offense,
Jaylen Searles has emerged as the leading scorer as he has poured in 20 or more points in three of the last four games. Averaging 14.7 points per game, Searles put up the most in a single outing for the Colonels with 24 in the win over New Orleans.
After missing three games with an injury,
Jalik Dunkley returned against SFA and scored 12 points in the loss. In conference, Dunkley is averaging 16.7 points on 63.5 percent from the field.
On defense,
Sincere Malone and
Trae English ranked No. 1 and 2 in the Southland in steals. Both have totaled 37 on the season and Malone ranks in the Top 50 of the NCAA at 2.1 per game. Both have contributed on offense as well as Malone is averaging 10.9 points while English is at 9.9 with a team-high 3.3 assists.
Southeastern (5-14, 2-8 SLC) has just two wins through its first 10 league games but is only being outscored by four points per contest. In the last home game, the Lions fell on a last-second three-pointer against New Orleans.
The Colonels and Lions split the season series a year ago, with both teams winning at home. The all-time series has featured four consecutive winning streaks of at least three games prior to Southeastern's overtime win last year. Nicholls won five in a row after dropping three straight on two separate occasions.
STUFF STOPHER
Following Saturday's game, Nicholls will host New Orleans for its annual Stuff Stopher game. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26.
