HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team prepares for its biggest game at home this season when it entertains Southland Conference West Division favorite Sam Houston State on Saturday at the University Center.

Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game, which features two of the Southland Conference's four remaining unbeaten teams, can be heard on the internet at www.LionSports.net.

After posting its first 2-0 league start since 2005-06, Southeastern (10-5, 2-0 Southland) looks to remain atop the East Division standings prior to playing its next two games on the road beginning Wednesday at McNeese State. The Lions will host a talented Sam Houston State squad (9-5, 1-0 Southland) that has posted impressive wins over Auburn, Florida International and Rider while falling at No. 2 Kentucky, 102-92, on Nov. 19.

In its last game on Wednesday, Southeastern shot 57 percent in the second half and posted a 70-64 victory at Northwestern State. Damon Forest scored a game-high 18 points to lead four players in double figures as the Lions captured their third straight regular-season victory at Prather Coliseum.

Jason Marks added 12 points for Southeastern while Robert Tibbs and Rodney Jones scored 10 points each.

Patrick Sullivan, who was held to eight points against the Demons, leads Southeastern in scoring at 14.9 points per game and is third in the Southland Conference with 8.5 rebounds per game. The league leader in blocked shots (3.0/game), Sullivan has helped pace a Southeastern defense that leads the league in blocked shots (5.5/game) and field goal defense (38.9 percent) while ranking third in the conference in scoring defense (65.0/game).

Forest, who has averaged 21.0 points in the Lions' first two conference games, is next in scoring for Southeastern at 12.5 points. Trent Hutchin (9.9), Brandon Fortenberry (9.7) and Gary Dixon (8.1) are next in scoring for Southeastern, which averages 75.7 points per game.

SHSU, the top-scoring offense in the Southland Conference averaging 78.6 points per game, is led by newcomer Gilberto Clavell at 16.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Corey Allmond (15.6 ppg.) and former St. Augustine product Ashton Mitchell (10.9 ppg.) are next in scoring for the Bearkats, who opened Southland Conference play with a 66-57 win over Stephen F. Austin last Saturday. Preston Brown (9.0 ppg.) and Joston Crow (7.5) round out the starting lineup for SHSU, which leads the Southland Conference in assists and is second in 3-point field goal percentage.

SHSU leads the all-time series, 18-14, and has won four of the last five meetings. The Bearkats have won the last two meetings between the schools in the University Center, including a 69-45 victory in the 2006-07 campaign.