HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University closes out one of its toughest non-conference schedules in school history on Saturday when it faces in-state rival LSU in a 7 p.m. contest at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. 

With its Southland Conference opener set for Jan. 10 at Lamar, Southeastern (6-6) looks to benefit from a non-conference schedule that has seen the Lions battle nationally-ranked Minnesota, plus SEC schools Arkansas and Auburn and Big 12 foe Texas Tech. Southeastern closes out its non-conference schedule against an LSU squad (11-1) that has won all of its games on its home floor and looks to extend its 73-game Louisiana home winning streak that is over 20 years old.

Southeastern looks to snap a two-game losing streak that included an 80-71 setback at then No. 23 Minnesota on Dec. 23 and a 77-65 decision at Auburn on New Year's Eve. The Lions roared to a 12-point first-half lead in their last game before Auburn used a 24-4 run to build an eight-point advantage.

Kevyn Green, whose eligibility expires in the Southland Conference opener, leads the Southland Conference in scoring at 19.9 points per game while shooting 44 percent from behind the 3-point line. Patrick Sullivan is next in scoring for the Lions at 11.7 points per contest while leading the team in rebounds (7.9) and blocked shots (2.5).

Senior Warrell Span, a former Patterson High product, follows in scoring at 11.4 points with Chris Cyprian (8.8), sixth-man Robert Tibbs (7.6) and true freshman Brandon Fortenberry (6.6) next.

Off the bench, the Lions have gotten solid minutes from transfer Damon Forest (6.0), Antonio Pope (4.5), true freshman DeShawn Patterson (2.8) and sophomore David Ndoumba (1.2).

As a team, Southeastern is averaging 78.6 points while allowing 68.8. The Lions have controlled the glass through the first 12 games, outrebounding their opponents by 6.2 boards per game and have held opponents to 42 percent from the floor and 35 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Under first-year coach Trent Johnson, LSU opened the season with eight consecutive victories before a 72-61 loss against Texas A&M on Dec. 20 in Houston. The Tigers, who are 6-0 against Louisiana opponents and 3-0 against Southland Conference schools this season, are led in scoring by senior Marcus Thornton at 17.2 points per game.

Denham Springs' Tasmin Mitchell is next in scoring at 13.7 points while Bo Spencer (12.6), Chris Johnson (8.2) and Garrett Temple (7.5) follow. Johnson leads the Tigers in rebounds (7.4) and blocked shots (2.2) while Temple has dished out four assists per contest.

LSU enters the game averaging 75.8 points per game while allowing 58.9. Opponents have struggled against the Tigers from the floor converting on 37 percent of their field goal attempts and 34 percent from behind the 3-point arc. The Tigers have dominated the glass, outrebounding their foes by more than 10 boards per game.

The game marks the 10th meeting the schools - located approximately 50 miles from each other - with LSU holding an 8-1 lead. The Tigers have won the last eight meetings in the series since Southeastern claimed the inaugural meeting between the schools, 89-88, on Dec. 1, 1966.

The teams met last season with LSU claiming a 72-62 victory in its season-opener. Thornton scored 27 points to lead the Tigers. Span led the Lions with 14 points while Sullivan recorded his second career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.