THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team will get the 2026-27 season underway with a morning matchup against North American University on Monday, Nov. 2 on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

The Colonels will feature a different look with a new squad and a new coaching staff, led by head coach Darion Brown. A former assistant at Nicholls, Brown returned to Thibodaux to lead the Colonels after coaching at Texas A&M University-Texarkana where he led his squad to back-to-back 20-win seasons.

Nicholls posted consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in program history before finishing 14-19 last year. Brown welcomes back two players from that roster -- guards Christian Winborne and Jordan Matthews. Winborne logged 17 starts in 2025-26, averaging 7.9 points with the help of 54 made 3-pointers. 

Seven of the 12 newcomers bring Division I experience which include Arop Arop (Columbia/Memphis), Hunter Carter (Hawaii), Doyel Cockrill III (Chicago State), AJ Dent (Tarleton), Sheridan Sharp (Southern Illinois/Southern Indiana), Junior Sileu (Western Michigan) and Cameron Simpson (Texas State). Cockrill was the leading scorer of the group, pouring in 11.8 points in 28 total games last season.

The roster is rounded out by four more transfers and one freshman. Jah-Mel Bruce, Mor Mboup and Jared Taylor played in community college while AJ McPeters was a member of Brown's squad last year in Texarkana. The lone freshman is Cheikh Biteye who comes from Bella Vista Prep in Arizona. 

Nicholls will be taking on North American for the first time, an NAIA program located in Houston. The Stallions are 2-1 on the season with wins over Southwestern Adventist and College of Biblical Studies.