THIBODAUX, La. - Looking to stay undefeated in Southland play, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team will make the short trip to the Crescent City to take on the University of New Orleans at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Lakefront Arena.

Nicholls (7-8, 6-0 SLC) stands alone atop the conference standings following a 74-72 win over Northwestern State on Monday. It was the second two-point victory in the last three games for the Colonels, including their 71-69 win at UTRGV to close out 2025.

Nicholls features the No. 3 scoring offense in conference play at 75.7 points per game, while the defense is allowing 66.8 which ranks fourth. A key part of the Colonels' success in the six SLC games has been at the three-point line. Nicholls is hitting a league best 38.1 percent from behind arc while forcing the opposition to an SLC worst 25.5 percent.

Individually, Jaylen Searles and Christian Winborne rank among the league leaders in three-point percentage at 41.7 and 35 percent, respectively. In the win over NSU, Searles drained three from long range and finished with a team-high 18 points.

Leading the SLC in field goal percentage is Jalik Dunkley at 64.8 percent. The sophomore guard also ranks third in scoring at 17.5 ppg and is ninth in rebounding (7.3). He scored in double figures as well against the Demons with 17 points.

New Orleans (5-10, 3-3 SLC) has split its three set of league games after making some noise in the nonconference slate. The Privateers notched wins at TCU and Tulane, and lost in overtime against Mississippi State.

Southeastern transfer Jakevion Buckley has been one of the top players in the SLC so far, averaging 16.0 points and 6.0 assists in UNO's six league games. In the win at UTRGV, Buckley scored 32 points which is the most for any player in a conference game this season.

For the series, Nicholls has won four straight and 12 of the last 15. But two of the losses have been on the road, including the last setback in the series in 2023.