HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team closes out a two-game homestand when it faces regional rival Jackson State Saturday afternoon at the University Center.

Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern (5-4), which plays its next four games on the road beginning Tuesday at Big Ten member Minnesota, placed five players in double figures and used a strong first half in defeating Millsaps College, 85-56, on Tuesday. Kevyn Green and Warrell Span, who each made rare appearances off the bench, scored 17 and 15 points respectively for the Lions.

Former Central High product Damon Forest, in his second game in a Southeastern uniform after transferring from Louisiana-Lafayette, added 15 points for the Lions while Patrick Sullivan and Robert Tibbs scored 11 points each.

Green, who has started in 64 of 66 games played for Southeastern, leads Southeastern in scoring (20.2) and has paced the Southland Conference for much of the season. The swingman has converted on 53 percent of his field goal attempts, including 49 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Span, who came off the bench for the first time in 39 games as a Lion, is next in scoring at 12.4 points and is second in rebounds at 7.0 per contest.

Sullivan, who tied former Lion Thelander Tillman for the Southeastern career record with 131 blocked shots, is averaging 11.2 points per game and a team-high 7.8 rebounds. The 6-foot-9 junior has blocked 20 shots this season and is shooting 54 percent from the floor.

Expected to round out the starting lineup for Southeastern are guards Chris Cyprian (8.7) and freshman Brandon Fortenberry (6.6). Forest (11.0), Tibbs (8.7), Antonio Pope (5.3) and freshman DeShawn Patterson (3.0) are the top reserves for Southeastern, which enters the game averaging 81.9 points per game.

Pre-season SWAC favorite Jackson State (1-9), which has lost four consecutive games, continues its brutal season-opening 14-game road schedule that has included games at LSU, Texas A&M, Illinois, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Stephen F. Austin, Arizona State, defending national champion Kansas and Providence.

The Tigers, who will officially home their home schedule on Jan. 10 against Alcorn State, dropped an 85-71 decision at Providence on Wednesday after blowing an 11-point halftime lead. JSU shot 63 percent in the first half against the Friars before going 10-for-35 (29 percent) in the second half and being outscored, 53-28, in the final 20 minutes.

Grant Maxey, a preseason All-SWAC selection, leads JSU in scoring at 15.8 points per game with Darrion Griffin (13.1) and Ralph Caldwell (10.7) averaging in double figures. Maxey also leads the Tigers in rebounds (7.8) and blocks (11) and is second on the team in steals.

JSU leads the all-time series between the schools, 9-5, including an 81-73 decision two years ago in the University Center. Southeastern claimed last year's meeting in Jackson, 61-49, in snapping a nine-game losing streak to JSU and picking up its first win over the Tigers since a 51-46 win on Jan. 28, 1984.

Tickets are available by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466.