For the second year in a row, the Colonel basketball team has qualified for the Southland Conference Tournament. Finding themselves in a tie for eighth place with McNeese, Lamar and Northwestern State, the Colonels needed a win to solidify their place in the tournament. A 73-61 win over Lamar was enough, as Nicholls grabbed the eighth and final seed in the conference tournament.

After being a preseason favorite to win the conference, the Colonels found themselves in a fight to make it to the tournament.

A stretch of five consecutive losses put the Colonels in a must- win situation coming down the final stretch of the season.

A loss at McNeese looked to close the door on postseason play for Nicholls, but consecutive wins, including an upset at the University of Texas at Arlington and the victory over Lamar, landed the Colonels in Katy, Texas for the second consecutive year.

Last season, after an impressive 12-4 conference record, the Colonels garnered the number two seed in the tournament. An impressive first round win over Texas State had the Colonels just two victories away from March Madness.

After a loss to the University of Texas-San Antonio, dreams of reaching the NCAA field of 64 were gone.

This year, the Colonels look to better their success in the tournament though it will not be an easy one. They open the tournament against regular season champs Sam Houston State. With a victory over the Bearkats, the Colonels will then have to beat either Texas State or Southeastern Louisiana for a shot at the championship.

The championship game will be played Saturday and will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

The winner of the 2010 State Farm SLC Basketball Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament and a shot at the National Championship.