Box Score HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team came out victorious against Abilene Christian in a Southland Conference double-overtime thriller Saturday at the University Center.
A career day by
Antonnio Benton helped Southeastern (7-8, 2-2 Southland) fend off a 15-point, second-half comeback by the Wildcats to win its second-consecutive conference game. Benton recorded his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 27 points and hauling in 10 rebounds.
"We looked like a well-oiled machine at halftime, up 40-25," head coach Jim Yarbrough said. "Of course they made some adjustments. They went with a very small lineup and kind of dared us they were going to make three-point shots if we didn't switch correctly.
"The game, ironically, came down to a possession-by-possession grind, where if either team could get away from the other, it would be over."
With the Lions leading 64-60 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Harrison Hawkins of ACU (6-10, 0-2 Southland) fired in a three-pointer to bring the Wildcats within one. After Benton missed a dunk at the other end of the floor, LaDarrien Williams drew a foul from
Onochie Ochie while attempting to give ACU the lead. Williams converted his first attempt to tie the game, 64-64, but missed an opportunity to win the game when he failed to convert his second attempt.
Following a little back-and-forth in the second overtime period, Benton gave Southeastern the lead for good, 79-77, on a three-pointer with 2:04 remaining.
As a team, Southeastern was 27-of-65 from the floor (41.5 percent) and held the Wildcats to 33.3-percent shooting (23-of-69). The Lions made 11 three-point baskets, out of 23 attempts, to shoot over 47 percent beyond the arc.
Benton led the Lions in scoring and rebounding.
JaMichael Hawkins, one of four Southeastern players to score in double figures, dropped in 20 points.
Julian Chiera and
Onochie Ochie, before fouling out on Williams' potential game-winning shot, contributed 11 each.
Joshua Filmore and
Devonte Upson added eight points apiece to complete the Lions' offensive effort.
Williams led all players with 30 points while chipping in nine rebounds for ACU. Hawkins scored 27 and Austin Cooke, who also posted a double-double, chipped in 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Wildcats.
Southeastern continues a four-game, conference homestand with a pair of contests against Sam Houston State (Jan. 16) and Lamar (Jan. 18). 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.
ABILENE CHRISTIAN (6-10, 0-2 SLC)
Williams, LaDarrien 9-26 10-14 30; Hawkins, Harrison 8-17 10-13 29; Cooke, Austin 2-9 4-6 10; Payne, Riley 3-6 0-0 6; Pegues, James 1-2 0-0 2; Lancaster, Jacob 0-1 0-2 0; Edmonson, Julian 0-1 0-0 0; Grant, Michael 0-0 0-0 0; Wentz, Parker 0-4 0-0 0; Farley, Rafael 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-69 24-35 77.
SOUTHEASTERN LA. (7-8, 2-2 SLC)
Benton, Antonnio 9-19 7-9 27; Hawkins, JaMichael 6-17 4-5 20; Ochie, Onochie 3-5 5-7 11; Chiera, Julian 3-7 2-2 11; Upson, Devonte 3-4 2-2 8; Filmore, Joshua 3-6 0-1 8; Johnson, Forrest 0-0 0-0 0; Ricard, Jeffery 0-1 0-0 0; Evans, Dre 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 27-65 20-26 85.
Abilene Christian............. 25 39 8 5 - 77
Southeastern La.............. 40 24 8 13 - 85
3-point goals--Abilene Christian 7-19 (Hawkins, Harrison 3-4; Cooke, Austin 2-7; Williams, LaDarrien 2-5; Wentz, Parker 0-2; Farley, Rafael 0-1), Southeastern La. 11-23 (Hawkins, JaMichael 4-9; Chiera, Julian 3-7; Filmore, Joshua 2-2; Benton, Antonnio 2-4; Evans, Dre 0-1).
Fouled out--Abilene Christian-Hawkins, Harrison; Wentz, Parker, Southeastern La.-Ochie, Onochie.
Rebounds--Abilene Christian 45 (Cooke, Austin 12), Southeastern La. 40 (Benton, Antonnio 10).
Assists--Abilene Christian 8 (Hawkins, Harrison 3; Wentz, Parker 3), Southeastern La. 17 (Filmore, Joshua 5).
Total fouls--Abilene Christian 22, Southeastern La. 23.
Technical fouls--Abilene Christian-None, Southeastern La.-None.
A-387
