Nov. 23, 2007

MORAGA, Calif. - When the Colonels and Gaels play Saturday to conclude Nicholls three non-conference games in California, both teams will dress a combined eight Australians in the 3 p.m. CT contest.

The Gaels (4-0) are coming off of one of the biggest wins in their program's history with their 99-87 over No. 12 Oregon. In the victory, true freshman Patty Mills, who is from Australia, recorded the best game for a freshman in school history by dropping 37 points. Mills also had five assists, two steals, and only one turnover in the win.

Representing Australia for the Gaels besides Mills includes junior Ben Allen, junior Carlin Hughes, and junior Lucas Walker. Allen is redshirting this season due to transferring from Indiana. The Australian pride of the Colonels includes junior Ryan Bathie, sophomores Mitch Boyce and Michael Czepil, and freshmen Anatoly Bose and Dominic Friend.

The game against St. Mary's marks the first time in Nicholls history that the two teams have squared off against one another, and is the fourth game of the seven game road swing that Nicholls is riding right now.

Nicholls is coming into the game having lost three consecutive games including their most recent at UC Davis (3-2) by the score of 69-67. The Aggies capitalized on Colonel miscues in the second half, and took the lead midway through the second half and never looked back. The Colonels did come close, cutting it to two points, but UC Davis held off the onslaught to get the victory.

The game against St. Mary's can be heard live on 105.9 FM KBZE, the flagship station for the Colonels Sports Radio Network, and on 640 AM KTIB. Brennan Matherne will have the play-by-play action starting at 2:45 p.m. CT. Listeners can also catch all the action on the internet at www.kbze.com, and follow the game live statistically by going to the Colonels website, clicking on the men's basketball homepage, and accessing the gametracker link under the schedule and results icon.

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