CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – After four straight home games,Thursday's Southland Conference matchup at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi begins a stretch of four road games in the next five for the Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team.
A Saturday contest at Houston Baptist (4-14, 1-5 Southland) follows for Southeastern (8-9, 3-3 Southland). Both contests will tip at 7:30 p.m.
The games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone app. Fans can also follow along with live statistics, courtesy A&M-Corpus Christi and HBU. Links for audio and stats are available on the basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Southeastern is coming off a 91-65 drubbing of Lamar in which it hit on 16 three-point attempts, one shy of the school's single-game record. Converting 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) from beyond the arc allowed the Lions to build the sizable and comfortable lead over the Cardinals.
JaMichael Hawkins led the way for Southeastern, dropping in six three-pointers and 25 points overall to lead four Lions in double-digit scoring.
Hawkins (14.2 points per game) and
Antonnio Benton (11.7 ppg, 6.9 rebounds) lead the Lions in scoring. Benton, who also leads the team on the boards, is seventh in the conference in rebounding.
Dre Evans and
Joshua Filmore have split time at the point directing the Lions' offense, averaging 3.1 assists each.
As a team, the Lions are averaging 71.7 points, on 44.1-percent shooting, and 33.1 rebounds. Opponents are averaging 73.4 points, making Southeastern's scoring margin sixth-best in the conference.
Sweeping through a two-game trip to McNeese State and Nicholls State last week, A&M-Corpus Christi (8-11, 5-1 Southland) is off to its best start in the Southland in five seasons. The Islanders have won all four games in Corpus Christi between the two schools, but this will be the Lions' first trip to the island campus to play at the Dugan Wellness Center (1,200 capacity).
John Jordan is the Islanders' main offensive weapon, averaging a team-best 15.6 points and 4.4 assists. Zane Knowles (7.7 rpg) is the team's leading rebounder.
A&M-Corpus Christi is averaging 69.2 points on 45.5 percent shooting. The Islanders surrender 70.1 points per contest, giving them the fourth-stingiest defense in the conference.
HBU has dropped two straight after picking up the first Southland win in school history by outscoring Northwestern State, the conference's top scoring squad.
Rob Lewis (11.5 ppg), Tyler Russell (10.7 ppg) and Cody Joyce (10.1 ppg) lead the Huskies offense. Dauson Womack (5.3 rpg) and Richmonds Vilde (5.1 rpg) are HBU's top threats on the boards.
The Huskies average a Southland-low 65.2 points, on 41.7 percent shooting, and allow 78.6 points. The scoring margin of -13.4 is also the worst in the conference.
Southeastern returns home, Jan. 30, to face the University of New Orleans at the University Center. 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.
