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Thibodaux, La. – For the third-straight season, the UIW men's basketball team opens Southland Conference play on the road, beginning with a visit to Nicholls on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m., then Southeastern Louisiana on Monday, Jan. 2 at 2 p.m.

OPENING TIP

UIW is 0-3 in conference openers in the SLC era. The Cardinals lead the all-time series with Nicholls, 4-1, despite the Colonels winning the most recent meeting, 71-60, in Thibodaux, La., on Feb. 8, 2016. The Lions lead the all-time series with UIW, 2-1, as the Cardinals won last year's lone matchup, 75-71, in Hammond, La.

SCOUTING THE COLONELS

2016-17 Record: 7-6
Southland Record: 0-0
Last Game: W 88-64 vs. Spring Hill College (12/28)
Head Coach: Richie Riley (1st season)
Leaders:
#15 DeAndre Harris – 17.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 28 asts, 19 stls
#14 Ja'Dante' Fry – 15.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 21 asts
#13 Johnathan Bell – 11.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 21 asts, 20 stls
Summary: Under first-year head coach Richie Riley, Nicholls began the season with a bang, upsetting ACC foe, Boston College, 79-73, on the road. The Colonels enter conference play at 7-6, following an 88-64 win against Spring Hill College on Dec. 28.

DeAndre Harris and Ja'Dante' Fry – who were named SLC Players of the Week earlier in the season – lead the Colonels with 17.5 and 15.2 points per game, respectively. Fry leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game and both shoot greater than 34 percent from beyond the arc. As a team, the Colonels are shooting 43 percent from the floor (76.4 ppg) compared to 48 percent (80.6 ppg) for the opposition.

SCOUTING THE LIONS

2016-17 Record: 7-6
Southland Record: 0-0
Last Game: W 64-53 at Southern (12/28)
Head Coach: Jay Ladner (3rd season)
Leaders:
#0 Marlain Veal – 14.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 53 asts, 23 stls
#4 Davon Hayes – 14.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 51.8 3-PT%
#13 Moses Greenwood – 12.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 60.6 FG%
Summary: SLU snapped a small, two-game losing streak with a 64-53 win at Southern University Wednesday. Marlain Veal – who was earlier named SLC Player of the Week – leads the Lions with 14.5 points per game, 53 assists, and 23 steals. Davon Hayes follows close behind with 14.4 points per game, and is the big three-point threat, with 28 made for a 51.8 percentage. As a team, the Lions are shooting 47 percent from the floor (73.6 ppg) compared to 42 percent (69.2) for the opponents.

THE CARDINAL FILE

2016-17 Record: 5-6
Southland Record: 0-0
Last Game: L 95-71 at Memphis (12/21)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister (11th season)
Leaders:
#41 Shawn Johnson – 17.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 11 blks
#3 Simi Socks – 14.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 84.1 FT%
#1 Jalin Hart – 13.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 50 asts, 23 stls
Summary: Despite even shooting, UIW lost its third-straight game on Dec. 21 at Memphis, 95-71. The Cardinals were out-rebounded, 45-31, and the Tigers held an 18-5 advantage in second-chance points. Jalin Hart scored a team-best 18 points.   
 
On the season, Shawn Johnson is fourth in the Southland Conference in points (17.1) and T-3rd in rebounding (8.1). Hart is 4th in both assists (4.5) and steals (2.1). Devin Wyatt's 2.6 blocked shots per game places him second in the SLC and 18th nationally. As a team, the Cardinals are shooting 45 percent from the floor (78.2 points per game) compared to 46 percent (80.1 ppg) for the opposition.

UP NEXT

Following the road trip, UIW hosts Northwestern State on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in a "Red Out."

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals welcome New Orleans to the Convo Center on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.