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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – UIW men's basketball plays their final game this season at the McDermott Convocation Center Thursday at 7 p.m. versus Nicholls. Prior to the game, seniors Phillip Johnson and Jerred Kite will be recognized.
 
PACK THE HOUSE
 
Thursday's Senior Day battle will be offered for just $2 a ticket at the UIW box office on game day! Let's pack the house and cheer on our 2016-17 senior class for the final time at The Convo!

OPENING TIP
 
UIW leads the all-time series, 4-2, but Nicholls has won the last two meetings, including a 94-84 defeat to the Colonels in Thibodaux, Louisiana on Dec. 31, 2016.
 
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
 
2016-17 Record: 12-15, 5-9 SLC
Last Game: L 80-78 vs. Northwestern State (2/18)
Head Coach: Richie Riley (1st season)
Key Players:
#14 Ja'Dante' Frye – 14.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 46 asts, 13 blks, 24 stls, 45.7 FG%
#2 Jahvaughn Powell – 10.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 131 asts, 55 stls, 88.1 FT%
#24 Liam Thomas – 7.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 52 asts, 102 blks, 15 stls, 60.0 FG%
Summary: Nicholls is a new-look team since the first time the Colonels and Cardinals met in December in Thibodaux. Gone is leading scorer and a player who dropped 42 points against UIW in the first meeting, DeAndre Harris. The Colonels, who split games over the weekend - defeating Central Arkansas in overtime and losing to Northwestern State - are led by Ja'Dante' Frye with 14.8 points per game, which ranks him 8th in the conference. Jahvaughn Powell's 2.1 three-pointers made per game ranks him 5th, while Stevie Repichowski is 7th with 2.0. Powell is T-2nd with 4.9 assists per game, while Liam Thomas' 3.7 blocked shots per game lead all of NCAA Division I. As a team, the Colonels are tops in the conference with 5.7 blocked shots per game.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2016-17 Record: 11-15 (6-9 SLC)
Last Game: W 69-53 vs. Sam Houston (2/18)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister (11th season)
Key Players:
#1 Jalin Hart – 16.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 122 asts, 7 blks, 39 stls, 52.1 FG%
#3 Simi Socks – 15.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 30 asts, 13 blks, 22 stls, 83.8 FT%
#41 Shawn Johnson – 14.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 39 asts, 37 blks, 32 stls, 42.4 3PT%
Summary: UIW snapped its five-game losing streak in a big way, defeating Sam Houston 69-53 on Saturday. The 53 points were the lowest point total for the opposition this season. Shawn Johnson registered his fourth double-double with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while Tyler Singleton was tied for the game high of 16 points. Jorden Kite scored six points and pulled down a career-high six rebounds. Simi Socks scored 10 points and extended his scoring in double figures streak to 13-straight games, joining Kyle Hittle who accomplished the feat from Jan. 31-March 17, 2015.
 
Jalin Hart is 5th in the SLC with 16.1 points per game, followed closely by Socks, who is 6th with 15.5. Hart and Socks are 6th and 8th, respectively, with 52.1 and 46.7 field-goal percentages. Socks' 83.8 free-throw percentage ranks him 3rd. Johnson's 7.0 rebounds per game are good for 9th in the conference. As a team, the Cardinals lead the conference with 38.4 three-point percentage.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW plays at Abilene Christian on Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals conclude the season at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 p.m.
 
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