Nicholls (14-7, 8-2) at McNeese (11-9, 6-3) – 7:30 PM EST (McNeeseSports.com)
Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features an intrastate matchup of contenders in the Southland Conference – the hometown McNeese Cowboys host the Nicholls Colonels. This is a game that McNeese is calling “Operation Sellout” – the Cowboys have been on a roll since getting off to a 1-9 start against D1 competition. Their six-game winning streak has been highlighted by an 88-84 victory against defending conference champion Abilene Christian on the road. Sha’markus Kennedy leads the Cowboys (17.9 PPG/9.5 RPG) in both points and rebounds for the season.
Even with the departure of Richie Riley to South Alabama, #GeauxColonels is becoming a thing again as Nicholls is off to one of their better sseasons in the program’s history. The season started with an overtime loss to Illinois and a road win at Pitt, and even looked respectable in road losses at LSU and Rhode Island. A 73-72 loss at home to Northwestern State was a little baffling, but Nicholls’ 8-2 start in the Southland has them only a half-game behind SFA for the conference lead. Dexter McClanahan (14.3 PPG) leads a balanced attack that features four players averaging double figures for the Colonels.