Preview: Nicholls State Colonels at Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — A clash of Southland Conference extremes is set for Saturday when the surging Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks host the struggling Nicholls State Colonels at William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Lumberjacks (24-3) enter as one of the nation’s hottest teams, riding a 12-game winning streak and boasting a perfect 14-0 record in conference play. Their dominance was on full display just over a month ago in a 79-62 road victory over these same Colonels. Conversely, Nicholls State (11-16, 4-10) has lost three of its last four and sits near the bottom of the league standings. The Colonels are coming off a 72-68 loss at Houston Christian on Monday. The matchup features two of the conference’s top guards in contrasting roles. Stephen F. Austin is powered by Keon Thompson, who has been on a scoring tear. He dropped 32 points in a win over Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Feb. 14 and is averaging 22.4 points over his last five games, providing consistent offensive firepower for the league leaders. Nicholls State will rely heavily on the playmaking of Trae English, who logged 40 minutes in each of his last two outings. He posted 17 points and six assists in the loss to Houston Christian and recorded 12 points and seven assists in a win at Incarnate Word on Feb. 14. Containing Thompson and maximizing English’s production will be critical for the Colonels’ chances at an upset. The Lumberjacks have been nearly unbeatable at home this season. Their defense, which held Nicholls to 62 points in the January meeting, anchors their success. The Colonels have shown offensive flashes, scoring 91 in a recent win, but have struggled with consistency. Stephen F. Austin can further solidify its hold on the conference regular-season title with a victory. For Nicholls State, the game represents a formidable opportunity to play spoiler and gain momentum for the final stretch before the conference tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.