Nicholls Men's Hoops set for opening game in New Mexico

THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team starts in second grade Tevon Saddler with a trip to The Pit to take on the New Mexico Lobos. Tipoff is scheduled for Monday, November 4th at 8 p.m. Central and the game can be watched online on the Mountain West Network.

The Colonels are coming off a 20-win season and welcome back three double-digit scorers from last year's squad – Robert Brown III (13.8), Jamal West Jr. (13.4) and Byron Ireland (11.4). Nicholls also added seven transfers – all from Division I programs.

Brown and West were named preseason All-Southland after outstanding performances in their debut season. Brown was one of the best three-point shooters in the SLC, hitting 80 times at a shooting rate of 40.8 percent, the second-highest rate in the league. West was a force on defense as he averaged a league-best 1.6 blocks.

In last season's opener, Nicholls got off to a fast start before falling to Tulane 91-81. West scored 24 points in his first game as a Colonel Mekhi Collins posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Collins returns for his fourth season after averaging 4.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 21 starts last year.

Nicholls has an 0-2 all-time record at New Mexico, the last loss being a 75-63 setback in 2015.

The Lobos, who went 26-10 last season, also have two preseason all-league selections — Donovan Dent and Nelly Junior Joseph. Dent averaged 14.1 points and dished out five assists last season. Joseph controlled the paint with 8.2 boards and 49 blocks while scoring 8.2 points per game.

NEXT
Nicholls returns home for the next two games, beginning with the opener against South Alabama on Friday, November 8th at 6:30 p.m.