It will be a battle between Southland opponents when the Nicholls Colonels (7-22) welcome the New Orleans Privateers (9-17) to David R. Stopher Gym. The game gets underway at 7:30 pm ET on Monday, Feb. 29.
The Colonels lost a winnable game to McNeese State 71-69 on Saturday. Quinton Thomas finished with 19 points to lead the team. The Privateers, meanwhile, are coming off a tough 87-84 loss to Abilene Christian on Saturday. Michael Zeno scored 18 points and recorded 10 rebounds earning his first double-double of the season.
It could be an error-filled game for the Colonels offense, which ranks 300th in the nation in ball protection (TO% of 22.6%). They’ll be facing the ball-hawking New Orleans defense, which forces the 16th-most turnovers in the nation (22.2%).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Privateers won the first game 74-53. Christavious Gill was a top performer in the victory with 17 points, three rebounds, one assist, three steals, and two three-pointers.
Notes
In its last game, New Orleans lost by a margin of three points. Nicholls is 2-1 in games decided by a margin of three points or less. New Orleans has a 1-4 record in close games.
Nicholls has an average field goal percentage of 41.4%. New Orleans is an underachieving 2-12 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Nicholls Colonels rank lower for their field goal percentage (296th) than they do for their effective field goal percentage (292nd), but the New Orleans Privateers have a better FG% ranking (288th) than eFG% ranking (326th).
Nicholls, the 62nd-ranked team in blocked shots, records an average of 4.4 per game. New Orleans does worse, ranked 269th with 2.7.
When it comes to offensive rebounds, New Orleans ranks 14th. Nicholls ranks 275th in defensive rebounds.
The New Orleans defense has forced an average TO% of 22.2% this season (ranked 16th). In games where it gives up a TO% of 22% or greater, Nicholls has a losing 3-8 record.
