HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball squad returns to the University Center this week for a pair of Southland Conference contests against in-state foes McNeese State and Nicholls State.

Southeastern (9-13, 4-7 Southland) faces McNeese (7-16, 5-6 Southland) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Nicholls (10-10, 7-4 Southland) Saturday at 5 p.m. Both games will follow the Lady Lions' game against each school.

All 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 keep up with the game with live statistics or on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream. Links for tickets, audio, stats and video are available on the basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

Fans will have a chance Thursday to enjoy the Raising Cane's Challenge. If the Lions score 70 or more points against the Cowboys, fans presenting their ticket stub (or student coupon), and purchasing a combo at a participating Raising Cane's, will receive a free combo of equal or lesser value (through the following day).

Saturday's Nicholls State contest is Alumni Day in addition to Take A Kid To The Game Day. All children, age 12 and under, will be admitted free to that contest with a paid adult admission. Any former Southeastern men's basketball players planning to attend the game are asked to contact Larry Hymel of the Southeastern Alumni Association at Lhymel@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-3228.

The Lions dropped a 71-54 decision in Southland Conference play this past Saturday at Oral Roberts. Southeastern's bench outscored the ORU reserves 23-5 in the game, led by Onochie Ochie's 12 points and team-high six rebounds. Dre Evans led the Lions with 13 points.

JaMichael Hawkins (14.2 points per game) and Antonnio Benton (12.4 ppg, 6.8 rebounds) lead the Lions in scoring. Benton, who also leads the team on the boards, is sixth in the conference in rebounding. Evans (2.8 assists) and  Joshua Filmore (2.8 apg) have split time at the point directing the Lions' offense.

As a team, the Lions are averaging 70.9 points, on 43.8 percent shooting, and 32.9 rebounds. Opponents are averaging 73.6 points, making Southeastern's scoring margin seventh-best in the conference.

McNeese, which has dropped back-to-back contests, enters the game averaging 67.5 points per game on a conference-low 38.6-percent shooting percentage. The Cowboys are grabbing 36.7 rebounds per contest.

Leadrick Eckles (16.1 ppg, 2.3 apg), Kevin Hardy (11.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.9 apg) and Desharick Guidry (10.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg) pace McNeese offensively.

A short-handed Southeastern squad dropped games at McNeese (L, 69-60) and Nicholls (L, 64-61) during the opening week of Southland play back in early January.

The Colonels, who are led by Dantrell Thomas (17.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.9 apg) and Jeremy Smith (13.4 ppg), average 69.0 points on 44.7 percent shooting. Nicholls is last in the Southland in rebounding with an average of 31.2 boards per game.

Following a three-game win streak that included a pair of overtime wins over McNeese and Oral Roberts, Nicholls has dropped back-to-back games to Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State.

Southeastern plays its next contest on the road, returning home, Feb. 13, to face Northwestern State. 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.