- Matchup: McNeese Cowboys vs Nicholls Colonels
- Date: Monday, March 2, 2026
- Venue: David R. Stopher Gymnasium, Thibodaux, LA
- Broadcast: CBSSN
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The Nicholls Colonels (12-17) are set to battle the McNeese Cowboys (24-5) at the David R. Stopher Gymnasium on Monday.
In their prior game, the McNeese Cowboys triumphed over UT Rio Grande with a score of 75-68. In terms of fouls, the Cowboys were called for 15 against UT Rio Grande’s 21. From beyond the arc, McNeese succeeded in 8 of 27 attempts. Meanwhile, UT Rio Grande managed a free throw percentage of 58.8% with 10 successful shots out of 17. On the rebounding front, UT Rio Grande secured 28 boards (4 offensive, 24 defensive) but failed to register any blocks. The game statistics showed UT Rio Grande with 12 assists and 6 steals. Defensively, McNeese allowed a shooting percentage of 50.0%, as they let the opposing team convert 25 out of 50 attempts. The Cowboys recorded 15 assists, forced 16 turnovers, and achieved 13 steals. For rebounds, McNeese gathered a total of 32, including 11 on the offensive side. At the free throw line, the Cowboys converted 21 of 29, achieving a rate of 72.4%. They closed the game with a field goal percentage of 43.1% (25 out of 58) and netted 4 out of 18 three-point shots.
A standout player for McNeese was Larry Johnson, who scored 20 points while shooting 8 out of 17. He played 36 minutes and collected 8 rebounds, achieving a shooting rate of 47.1% and contributing 2 assists.
McNeese arrives at this matchup with a robust record of 24-5. The team is averaging 80.7 points per game (73rd in the nation) with an impressive field goal percentage of 47.3%. From three-point range, the Cowboys are hitting 32.3% (194 out of 600) and 75.6% from the free throw line. Collectively, McNeese is averaging 35.0 rebounds per game and has amassed 417 assists this season, placing them 138th in NCAA basketball. Their turnover average is 9.6 per game, along with committing 18.6 fouls consistently.
Defensively, the Cowboys are forcing 16.9 turnovers per game while averaging 17.7 personal fouls. Ranking 108th in Division 1, they have surrendered a total of 363 assists throughout the season. McNeese’s defense is allowing opponents a 41.0% shooting rate (625 out of 1,523) and an average of 32.9 rebounds per game. They are yielding 33.2% on three-point attempts and rank 21st in the country in points allowed per game at 66.4.
In their last outing, the Nicholls Colonels secured a narrow victory against Lamar, finishing 53-52. On the rebounding side, Nicholls State allowed Lamar to collect 35 total boards (10 offensive). They registered a disappointing 17.4% from three-point territory, making only 4 out of 23 attempts, and shot 8 of 11 at the free throw line (72.7%). Lamar managed to convert 20 of their 56 field goal attempts, achieving a shooting percentage of 35.7%. Overall, the Colonels shot 36.1% from the floor, going 22 out of 61, while hitting just 5 of 28 three-pointers (17.9%). With respect to free throws, they converted 4 of 7 attempts for 57.1%. Lamar committed 6 fouls, leading to a total of 7 free throw attempts for the Colonels. Nicholls managed 12 steals and forced Lamar into 13 turnovers while gathering a total of 32 rebounds (23 defensive, 9 offensive).
Trae English was key for the Colonels, scoring 18 points in 37 minutes and contributing 2 assists. He shot 7 of 17 for a rate of 41.2%, along with 2 rebounds.
Nicholls State holds a season record of 12-17. The Colonels are committing 18.1 personal fouls per game and shooting 66.6% from the free-throw line. They average 13.3 assists per game (ranked 229th in the nation) while turning the ball over an average of 11.7 times. This season, Nicholls has scored 2,126 points, averaging 73.3 points per game, and they are collecting an average of 30.5 rebounds per contest. Offensively, they are shooting at a rate of 43.9% from the floor, which ranks 266th nationally.
Defensively, Nicholls State ranks 241st in points per game allowed at 76.0. They force 14.7 turnovers each game and allow opponents to shoot at a rate of 47.8% from the field (342nd in college). Their opponent’s shooting from beyond the arc stands at 34.9% (210 out of 602), with opponents converting 77.2% of their free throw attempts. They allow an average of 14.7 assists and 36.4 total rebounds per game, ranking 280th and 300th in the nation, respectively.
Who will prevail in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on Nicholls State
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