KATY, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team faces Nicholls State Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the first round of the 2014 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at the Merrell Center.
No. 8 seed Southeastern (12-17, 7-11 Southland) and No. 5 seed Nicholls (13-14, 10-8 Southland) face each other for the third time this season. The home team won each of their respective games in the season series.
The game 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 and streaming video provided by the Southland Conference. Links for audio, video and stats are available on the men's basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
McNeese State (No. 7 seed) and Oral Roberts (No. 6 seed) face each other at 7:30 p.m. in the other first round men's contest.
Men's second-round games will be played Thursday at 5 and 7:30 p.m. and the semifinal games will be played Friday at 5 and 7:30 p.m. The men's championship game will be played Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and be televised on ESPN2.
The first four games of the men's tournament will be streamed live for free on the Southland Conference Digital Network, including Southland.org and the league's iPhone and Android Apps available at southland.org/apps. The semifinals will be available solely on ESPN3, while the championship game will be covered exclusively ESPN2 Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the championship trophy presentation to be carried live on ESPN3.
The winners of the conference men's tournament will earn the Southland Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA tournaments. The NCAA Men's Final Four will be held April 5 and 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Last time out, four Lions scored in double figures as Southeastern topped Lamar, 71-62.
Devonte Upson picked up his second double-double of the season. The Amarillo, Texas, native tied a career high with 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
JaMichael Hawkins scored 15 points, while
Dre Evans added 11 and
Onochie Ochie chipped in another 10 points for Southeastern. The Lions converted 22-of-47 shots (46.8 percent) in the contest.
Overall this season, Hawkins (12.4 points per game) and
Antonnio Benton (11.8 ppg, 6.2 rebounds) lead the Lions in scoring. Upson is tied with Benton for the team rebounding lead (6.2 rpg). Evans (2.9 assists) and
Joshua Filmore (2.9 apg) have split time at the point directing the Lions' offense.
As a team Southeastern is averaging 69.7 points, on 44.5 percent shooting, and 31.8 rebounds. Opponents are averaging 72.5 points, making the Lions' scoring margin eighth best in the conference.
Since falling 71-66 at Southeastern, the Colonels wrapped up the regular season with three wins in their final five games.
Nicholls, which is led by Dantrell Thomas (15.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.6 apg) and Jeremy Smith (13.9 ppg), average 68.3 points on 44.7 percent shooting. The Colonels are last in the Southland in rebounding with an average of 31 boards per game.
The winner advances to face No. 4 seed Northwestern State (21-9, 12-6 Southland) Thursday at 5 p.m.
Tickets to the 2014 Southland Conference Basketball Tournament are available through Ticketmaster and at the Merrell Center box office.
