Box Score BATON ROUGE, La. – Struggling to shoot in the first half, the Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team knocked down shot after second-half shot Friday, but the comeback attempt was wiped out, 89-66, by a stronger LSU squad.
Southeastern (2-2) fell behind by as much as 26 points early in the second half, but a 19-6 run cut the Tigers' lead back to 10. The Lions would eventually bring the deficit into single digits, but LSU (3-1) methodically pushed its lead back up.
"In real simple terms, our turnovers went down; we started to shoot the ball and loosen up; we got looks and we took advantage of them," coach Jim Yarbrough said. "We started to be a little effective around the basket, and defensively we kind of got away from some of the, I won't say gimmicks, but we were trying to do some things like doubling to take away their great size and then other guys got into a great rhythm. And I hated that. So I said we're going to go toe-to-toe, we're going to guard the best we can, and that's how we're going to approach the second half. It was a formula that worked for us, and the guys at least responded like they did against Rice. We weren't able to come all the way back and hang in there as the game went away, but it was a better showing."
The Lions, who were 16-of-31 from the floor in the second half, converted its first five three-point attempts after halftime.
Onochie Ochie led three Southeastern players in double-digit scoring with 17 points.
Julian Chiera added 13 points and freshman
Joshua Filmore scored 10 for the Lions.
Devonte Upson, Southeastern's leading rebounder, fouled out late in the second half with eight rebounds.
"I think we've got a team that if we can find a way to become self-starters, we have a chance to get better," coach Jim Yarbrough said. "We're still a long way away and we're inconsistent right now. But the team I saw in the second half is the team I was hoping to bring here from the beginning. Clearly, they are a team that can wear you down with their great size. But I'm very pleased with the second half performance. I was not pleased at all with the first half. I don't know if it's a confidence issue or if it's playing together."
Johnny O'Bryant III led all players in scoring, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Jordan Mickey added 17 points while Andre Stringer (12), Shavon Coleman (10) and Anthony Hickey (10) all contributed double-digit points for LSU.
Southeastern returns Tuesday to the University Center to take part in a doubleheader with the Lady Lion basketball team. The Lady Lions host William Carey at 5 p.m. in an exhibition game and the men will square off against Western Illinois at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.LionSports.net or by calling the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-LION.
Southeastern Louisiana vs LSU
11/22/13 At Maravich Center (Baton Rouge, LA)
SOUTHEASTERN LA. (2-2)
Ochie, Onochie 6-10 4-5 17; Chiera, Julian 5-10 0-0 13; Filmore, Joshua 4-9 0-0 10; Evans, Dre 3-10 0-0 8; Upson, Devonte 3-4 0-0 6; Benton, Antonnio 2-10 0-0 5; Ricard, Jeffery 2-6 0-0 4; Hawkins, JaMichael 0-6 2-2 2; Campbell, Jeremy 0-0 1-2 1; Cooper, Quin 0-0 0-0 0; Evans, Antonio 0-0 0-0 0; Johnson, Forrest 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-65 7-9 66.
LSU (3-1)
O'Bryant III, Johnny 4-8 10-12 18; Mickey, Jordan 8-10 1-2 17; Stringer, Andre 4-8 2-2 12; Hickey, Anthony 4-8 1-2 10; Coleman, Shavon 3-4 2-2 10; Martin, Jarell 3-8 1-3 7; Malone, Darcy 3-3 0-0 6; Quarterman, Tim 2-6 0-0 4; Odo, John 0-0 2-2 2; Eddlestone, Brandon 1-2 0-0 2; Hammink, Shane 0-2 1-2 1; Shortess, Henry 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-61 20-27 89.
Southeastern La..... 25 41 - 66
LSU............................. 49 40 - 89
3-point goals--Southeastern La. 9-22 (Chiera, Julian 3-5; Evans, Dre 2-5; Filmore, Joshua 2-4; Benton, Antonnio 1-2; Ochie, Onochie 1-2; Hawkins, JaMichael 0-3; Ricard, Jeffery 0-1), LSU 5-18 (Coleman, Shavon 2-3; Stringer, Andre 2-3; Hickey, Anthony 1-4; Quarterman, Tim 0-4; Eddlestone, Brandon 0-1; Martin, Jarell 0-3). Fouled out--Southeastern La.-Upson, Devonte, LSU-None. Rebounds--Southeastern La. 29 (Upson, Devonte 8), LSU 45 (O'Bryant III, Johnny 10). Assists--Southeastern La. 13 (Evans, Dre 3; Filmore, Joshua 3), LSU 18 (Hickey, Anthony 6). Total fouls—Southeastern La. 21, LSU 16. Technical fouls--Southeastern La.-None, LSU-None. A-8404
