HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team returns to action after a week off on Saturday when it battles Southland Conference East Division rival Nicholls State in a 3 p.m. contest at the University Center.
The game can be heard on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Fans will be treated to a special halftime presentation by the Holden Little Dribblers. Tickets are available by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-LION. All Southeastern students are admitted free with their University ID.
Southeastern (13-9, 5-4 SLC) returns to action for the first time since a 64-57 loss at UTSA last week. The Lions, who lead the Southland Conference in field goal shooting (.476), field goal defense (.392) and 3-point field goal percentage (.388), were held to 2-for-17 from behind the 3-point line in the contest.
The Lions, who are 10-1 at home this season, are led by senior
Patrick Sullivan who is sixth in the league in scoring (15.4), fourth in rebounds (8.2) and second in blocked shots (3.0). The 6-foot-9 senior has recorded six double-doubles on the season and 19 in his career, including a 27-point, 12-rebound effort in an 84-65 win at Nicholls (7-16, 3-7 SLC) two weeks ago.
Trent Hutchin is next in scoring for the Lions at 10.0 points per game with
Brandon Fortenberry (8.0),
Rodney Jones (6.8),
Robert Tibbs (6.4) and
Deshawn Patterson (5.0) following. As a team, Southeastern averages 73.1 points per game while allowing 65.5. The Lions also rank No. 2 in the league in 3-pointers made per game at 7.1.
Nicholls has lost four straight, beginning with its earlier matchup against the Lions on Jan. 30. Southeastern pulled away from a 42-40 halftime lead outscoring the Colonels, 42-25, in the second half as it shot 65 percent from the floor and 9-for-13 from behind the 3-point arc.
Anatoly Bose leads the Colonels in scoring at 20.9 points per game with Fred Hunter (14.1) and Chris Iles (9.4) next. Hunter, a 6-5, 240-pound sophomore, scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Nicholls in their earlier matchup.
As a team, the Colonels average 65.8 points per game and allow 72.5. Nicholls ranks among the league leaders in steals (2nd, 8.4) and 3-pointers made per game (4th, 6.8).
The game marks the 84th meeting in the series between the in-state rivals with Southeastern holding a 45-38 lead.
