HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday when it faces in-state rival Southern at the University Center.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. The game will also be televised on a tape-delayed basis on the Southeastern Channel (Charter Cable 18 in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Livingston and St. Helena Parish; Charter Cable 17 in Washington Parish).

Playing its first game in nine days, Southeastern (6-2) dropped a 77-60 decision at LSU on Monday despite 19 points and a season-high 13 rebounds from Patrick Sullivan. The Lions trailed 34-31 at halftime before LSU opened the second half with a 15-3 run to pull away.

Sullivan, who is sixth in the Southland Conference in scoring (16.1) and third in rebounds (8.4), posted his 15 career double-double. The 6-foot-9 senior who already hold the school record for blocked shots (195) needs one rebound to become the ninth player in school history to record 600 rebounds and is 74 points shy of becoming the 16th player in school history to record 1,000 points.

Trent Hutchin is next in scoring for the Lions (12.0) followed by Damon Forest (10.8), Gary Dixon (9.3) and Brandon Fortenberry (9.2).

Southeastern averages 79.2 points per game – tied with Sam Houston State for the Southland Conference lead – while ranking fourth in the league in scoring defense allowing 65.0 points. The Lions have paced the league in field goal shooting, averaging nearly 47 percent from the floor, and are second among Southland Conference schools in free throw shooting at 76 percent.

While the Lions pace the league in field goal shooting, they also have one of the stingiest defenses holding opponents to league-low 38 percent from the floor. Southeastern, which leads the Southland in blocked shots per game (4.9), are second in 3-point defense (28.8 percent) and third in steals (8.9).

Southern (1-8) snapped an eight-game slide to open the season with a 78-73 win over UNO last Saturday. The Jaguars opened the season with contests at Baylor, Oklahoma State, Utah and BYU before dropping contests to Wofford, Presbyterian and Southland Conference opponents Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas.

Jazz Williams and Earnest Jones each average a team-high 12.9 points for Southern. Jones, who scored a career-high 25 points against UNO, leads the Jaguars with 6.9 rebounds per game.

Tony McGilveary is next in scoring for Southern, which averages 59.2 points and has allowed 81.3, at 7.5 points per game.

Southern leads the all-time series between the schools, 16-14. Southeastern has won the last four meetings in the series, including an 84-75 victory last season in Baton Rouge.

Tickets are available at the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-LION (5466) or on-line at www.LionSports.net.