HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team heads back on the road on Saturday as it travels to Thibodaux to face Southland Conference Nicholls State in a 2 p.m. contest at Stopher Gym.
The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. The meeting marks the 83rd time the rivals have met on the hardwood with Southeastern (11-8, 3-3 Southland) holding a 44-38 lead. Nicholls (7-12, 3-3 Southland) swept the season series in 2008-09 and has won four of the last eight meetings.
After suffering road losses at McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern bounced back as it defeated Central Arkansas, 60-53, on Wednesday. The Lions overcame a 1-for-12 performance from behind the 3-point line as they held a 38-31 advantage on the boards, including 19 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second chance points.
Deshawn Patterson paced Southeastern with a career high-tying 17 points with
Patrick Sullivan adding 10.
Jason Marks and
Rodney Jones grabbed a season-high 10 and eight rebounds respectively for the Lions, who improved to 9-1 at home.
Sullivan, who passed former Lion Ricky Woods for 13th place with 1,066 points, leads Southeastern in scoring (14.2), rebounds (8.2) and blocked shots (53).
Damon Forest is next in scoring for Southeastern at 11.1 points with
Trent Hutchin (9.5),
Brandon Fortenberry (8.0),
Gary Dixon (7.9), Jones (6.8) and
Robert Tibbs (6.7) following.
Southeastern averages 73.3 points per game while allowing 65.5. The Lions have paced the Southland Conference in field goal shooting (47.1 percent), 3-point shooting (39.0), blocked shots (5.2) and field goal defense (39.4) while ranking among the league leaders in scoring defense, 3-point defense (30.5), free throw percentage (71.5), assists (15.3) and 3-pointers made per game (7.4).
Nicholls, which started the season 0-8, has won all six of its games at home, including Southland Conference victories over Northwestern State, SFA and McNeese State. The Colonels, who have won eight straight at home dating back to last season, held off McNeese State, 63-61, on Wednesday behind 23 points from Anatoly Bose.
Bose, who is third in the Southland Conference in scoring at 20.4 points per game, is one of three players averaging in double figures for the Colonels. Fred Hunter averages 13.4 points for Nicholls and Chris Iles follows at 10.1. Bose also leads the Colonels in rebounds (6.3), ranking 10th in the league.
