Houston Christian basketball vs. Nicholls State: How to watch and game preview — Feb. 16
The Nicholls State Colonels visit Houston Christian for a Southland Conference clash at Sharp Gymnasium on Monday, February 16, 2026. Tipoff is set for 8 p. m. ET. Nicholls arrives with momentum from a three-game road streak, while Houston Christian will lean on home-court stability after a one-point victory in its last outing.
Game details and broadcast
Tipoff: 8: 00 p. m. ET, Monday, February 16, 2026. Venue: Sharp Gymnasium, Houston, TX.
Team records: Nicholls State is 11-15 overall and 10-7 in Southland play. Houston Christian is 9-17 overall and 5-12 in conference games. Odds were updated Monday at 9: 34 p. m. ET, with Nicholls listed as a slim favorite by 1. 5 points and the over/under at 142. 5 points.
What to watch — matchups and form
Nicholls State has been one of the steadier offensive teams in recent weeks, most recently posting a 91-83 road win over Incarnate Word. That game showcased the Colonels' balance: Zee Hamoda finished with 18 points while shooting 85. 7 percent from the field and hit all four of his three-point attempts, and Jaylen Searles also scored 18 points. Those efficient scoring displays have helped fuel Nicholls’ three-game road streak entering Monday.
Houston Christian arrives off a tight 61-60 home win over New Orleans. The Huskies leaned on D'Aundre Samuels, who scored 15 points and swatted three shots while shooting an efficient 70 percent from the floor, and Demarco Bethea, who added 13 points on 57. 14 percent shooting. Houston Christian's recent results show it can grind out low-scoring affairs at home, but the Huskies still rank toward the lower end of Division I scoring averages this season.
Matchup-wise, the key battle will be perimeter efficiency and defensive rebounding. Nicholls has shown the ability to stretch defenses — Hamoda’s hot shooting from deep is a clear threat — while Houston Christian will try to control the glass and keep possessions alive through offensive rebounds and interior defense. If the Huskies can limit second-chance points and force contested outside shots, they stand a strong chance of turning home-court advantage into a win.
Trends, betting notes and keys to victory
Look for both teams to press on fundamentals. Nicholls has been more comfortable in higher-paced scoring games, while Houston Christian has tilted toward slower, possession-oriented matchups. The total of 142. 5 suggests a moderately paced contest; if Nicholls can maintain its recent offensive rhythm and hit early triples, the game could tilt toward the higher side of that number.
Keys for Nicholls: sustain perimeter accuracy, limit turnovers and control the defensive glass to prevent second-chance points. Keys for Houston Christian: rely on interior defense from Samuels, get timely scoring from Bethea and convert on second-chance opportunities.
With records and conference seeding still in play late in the season, both teams have motivations beyond a single result. Nicholls will aim to protect its upward trajectory on the road, while Houston Christian seeks to halt the Colonels and build some momentum before the Southland tournament stretch run.
Expect a competitive atmosphere at Sharp Gymnasium and a close finish. The matchup pits Nicholls’ recent shooting hot streak against Houston Christian’s home toughness — a classic small-conference collision where execution and rebounding could decide the outcome.
