LAKE CHARLES, La. – A battle-tested Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball squad opens Southland Conference play with a pair of road contests, Thursday at McNeese State and Saturday at Nicholls State.
Slated to be played at Burton Coliseum, Thursday's conference opener will tip at 7:30 p.m. All conference contests are scheduled to follow the women's game as part of a doubleheader. Saturday's game at Nicholls' Stopher Gym is set for a 3:30 p.m. tipoff.
Both games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone app. McNeese and Nicholls will each provide a live video stream for LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream, as well as live statistics. Links for audio, stats and video are available on the basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
"We finished non-conference play 5-6, finished with a double-digit win at home," head coach Jim Yarbrough said. "We had some great performances. It's got to feel good for guys to see the ball go through the basket and now, of course, we go back on the road.
"That's kind of our life, one at home and two on the road. At least now in conference, you knock these two out. You find out where you're at after the first weekend and then the next 16 games, nine at home and seven on the road, hopefully we become healthy and whole again, and become a team that can compete with just about anybody in the league."
Battling a heavy dose of midseason bumps and bruises, a short Lion bench clawed back from a four-point halftime deficit for a 75-65 victory over Spring Hill this past Monday in the team's final tuneup entering conference play.
Junior guard
JaMichael Hawkins (12.3 points per game) leads Southeastern (5-6) in scoring.
Antonnio Benton (11.4 ppg, 6.8 rebounds per contest) is seventh in the conference in rebounding.
As a team, the Lions are averaging 69.8 points, on 42.7-percent shooting, and 34.5 rebounds. Opponents are averaging 74.1 points, making Southeastern's scoring margin seventh-best in the conference. The scoring offense ranks sixth and the shooting percentage is ninth overall in the Southland.
Dre Evans (3.1 assists per game) and
Joshua Filmore (3.0 apg) have split time at the point directing the Lions' offense. Southeastern is one of three teams with a pair of players among the top 11 in the Southland in assists.
McNeese (2-10), coming off a 79-52 loss at LSU this past Saturday, is averaging a conference-low 62.9 points. Ledrick Eackles (14.2 ppg), Kevin Hardy (11.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Desharick Guidry (10.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) are all averaging double-digit points for the Cowboys. Craig McFerrin (7.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) is among the team's top rebounders.
Nicholls (3-6), which has not played since a 79-66 loss at Indiana on Dec. 20, is pumping out an average of 66.1 points per contest. Dantrell Thomas (15.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads the team in both scoring and rebounding. Jeremy Smith (11.8 ppg) is the only other Colonel scoring in double-digits. Nicholls hosts the University of New Orleans, the Lions' Southland travel partner, Thursday evening.
"If we do this right, we can find a way to steal a win or two while we're depleted," Yarbrough said. "We'll have a great experiences going later into January and February. Those experiences, everybody doing different jobs and sucking it up, could be a benefit to us as we come back healthy and whole again. That's what I'm looking for from us, to expand, grow and not remain comfortable."
Southeastern returns to the University Center for a four-game, conference homestand beginning Jan. 9 against Southland newcomer Incarnate Word. Abilene Christian (Jan. 11), Sam Houston State (Jan. 16) and Lamar (Jan. 18) will also make their way through Hammond, La., during the two-week span.
Tickets for all home games can be purchased at www.LionSports.net or by calling the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office, located in the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics, at (985) 549-LION.
