HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team opens Southland Conference action on Saturday when it plays host to Lamar in a 3 p.m. contest at the University Center.

The game can be heard on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Tickets are available by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern (8-5) looks to remain unbeaten in the University Center where it is 7-0 in 2009-10 and has won nine straight dating back to last season. The Lions, who joined the Southland Conference in 1997-98, are 7-5 overall in league openers including a 76-65 setback at Lamar (8-7) in last year's contest.

Patrick Sullivan, who needs eight points to become the 16th player in school history to score 1,000 points in a career, leads Southeastern in scoring (15.6), rebounds (9.2) and blocked shots (2.8). Damon Forest, who scored a team-high 12 points in a 77-59 loss at Nebraska on Tuesday, is next in scoring for the Lions at 11.2 points followed by Trent Hutchin at 10.4.

As a team, Southeastern averages 75.9 points per game while allowing 65.8 – the third-lowest mark in the Southland Conference. The Lions lead the league in field goal defense, holding opponents to 40 percent from the floor, while ranking second in the conference in field goal shooting (46.3 percent) and free throw percentage (74.9).

Lamar plays its first game on the road since a 96-78 loss at Hawaii on Dec. 6. The Cardinals, who are 0-6 away from home, went 5-1 on a six-game homestand that included wins over Rice, Tulane and Arkansas State.

Anthony Miles leads Lamar in scoring at 14.7 points per game followed by Justin Nabors (12.7), who is the Southland leader in rebounds at 9.7 per game. Kendrick Harris (11.7) and Charlie Harper (10.8) are next in scoring for the Cardinals, who average 70.2 points per game while allowing 70.0.

After facing Lamar, Southeastern will travel to face in-state rival Northwestern State on Wednesday in a 7 p.m. contest at Prather Coliseum.