Men’s basketball is back on track after important conference victory

The Nicholls State University men’s basketball team earned arguably their most impressive win of the season in an 81-64 victory over the University of New Orleans. With this win, the Colonels (14-9 overall, 8-2 SLC) moved into a tie for first place in the Southland Conference with the Privateers.

RECAP
In a matchup between the top two teams in the Southland Conference, the Colonels were able to emerge as victors thanks to a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort. Guard Roddy Peters led the charge, pouring in 27 points on 10/17 shooting to go along with six assists and three steals. Forward Kimani Jackson also had a strong game, recording 15 points and eight rebounds.

The Colonels, who are tied for the 17th ranked offense in the nation with 84.7 points per game, had yet another efficient shooting night. The team shot 52.7 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range, and held the Privateers to 36.8 percent shooting from the field. Nicholls also dominated the inside, outscoring UNO 38-22 in points in the paint.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS
The Colonels are currently tied with UNO for the first spot in the Southland Conference standings. Sam Houston State University and Southeastern Louisiana University, who both have a Conference record of 8-3, are half a game behind Nicholls. The Colonels will need to keep racking up wins to keep ahead of the pack. A rematch against UNO in late February looms largely as both teams fight for the top Southland Conference spot.

WHAT’S NEXT
The team will return home to play Houston Baptist University on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. The Huskies (5-18, 1-9 SLC) have struggled throughout the season and even more so recently, dropping 11 of their last 12 games. They have been prone to defensive struggles, as they rank 341st in points allowed per game (83.3).

Forward David Caraher leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. Starting center Josh Ibarra, who averages a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds along with 1.7 blocks, has been sidelined since December with a foot injury.