HAMMOND, La. – A strong first half by Northwestern State carried the Demons past Southeastern Louisiana, 88-73, Saturday in Southland Conference play at the University Center.
Southeastern (5-15, 2-5 Southland) tightened up in the second half, but could not narrow the gap against the Demons (11-9, 6-3 Southland).
The Lions went up 26-24 on a layup by
Cedric Jenkins with 7:52 left in the first half. Northwestern State grabbed the lead back on a three-point play as Zeek Woodley hit a jumper 21 seconds later and then sank the ensuing free throw.
Southeastern closed within five in the final minutes of the half as
Zay Jackson nailed a three pointer, making the score 38-33 with 2:20 to go until halftime. Woodley and Jalan West, however, combined for seven points down the stretch, pushing the Demons' lead back to double digits.
In the second half Southeastern hung within three of Northwestern State, but the damage had already been done.
DeVonte Upson tied a career best with 19 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.
Zay Jackson added 17 points while
Joshua Filmore chipped in 10.
Daniel Grieves added help on the boards, hauling in nine rebounds for the Lions.
Southeastern shot 46 percent from the floor (29-of-63), including 12.5 percent from three-point range (2-of-16). The Lions converted 13-of-21 from the free throw line (61.9 percent).
Woodley led all players with 28 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Demons. West added 23 points and Marvin Frazier scored 11.
Northwestern State shot 45.9 percent from the floor (28-of-61), including 33.3 percent from three-point range (6-of-18). The Demons converted 26-of-28 from the free throw line (92.9 percent) and out-rebounded Southeastern, 37-35.
The Lions and McNeese State (8-11, 2-6 Southland) face off at 7 p.m. Monday in Southeastern's annual Jam the Jungle game. The Cowboys defeated the University of New Orleans, 68-61, Saturday at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The game can be heard in the Hammond, Louisiana, area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone apps. Live statistics will be provided, as will streaming video on LionVision (subscription required). Links for audio, stats, tickets and video are available on the basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Monday for Jam the Jungle, free food and t-shirts will be distributed to the first 250 students in attendance. Promotions and prizes will be given away throughout the game which is also a Cane's Challenge contest. If the Lions score 65 or more points against McNeese State, 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).
Advanced tickets for individual basketball games can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or by calling the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466. The main ticket office in the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics is open Monday prior to the game from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the University Center box office opens one hour prior to tipoff.
Courtside Top Cat seats are $25 for an individual game. General admission tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children (age 3-12). Southeastern students will be admitted free with a valid university ID card.
NORTHWESTERN STATE (11-9, 6-3 SLC)Woodley, Zeek 8-16 11-11 28; West, Jalan 7-12 7-7 23; Frazier, Marvin 3-3 5-6 11; Thompson, Sabri 3-7 0-0 7; Killian, Matt 2-8 0-0 6; King, Ryan 2-3 0-0 4; Welcome, Ta'Jon 1-4 2-2 4; Joseph, Tra'von 2-3 0-0 4; Hall, Devonte 0-5 1-2 1; Adekunle, Deji 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 28-61 26-28 88.
SOUTHEASTERN LA. (5-15, 2-5 SLC)Upson, DeVonte 9-13 1-2 19; Jackson, Zay 8-20 0-0 17; Filmore, Joshua 3-11 3-4 10; Jenkins, Cedric 3-6 3-4 9; Grieves, Daniel 3-4 2-5 8; Ochie, Onochie 2-3 3-4 7; Maggio, Dylon 1-3 1-2 3; Barclay, Bret 0-1 0-0 0; Duplessis, Jimmie 0-2 0-0 0.
Totals 29-63 13-21 73.
Northwestern State.......... 45 43 - 88
Southeastern La............... 33 40 - 73
3-point goals--Northwestern State 6-18 (Killian, Matt 2-4; West, Jalan 2-6; Thompson, Sabri 1-2; Woodley, Zeek 1-1; Hall, Devonte 0-3; Welcome, Ta'Jon 0-2), Southeastern La. 2-16 (Jackson, Zay 1-6; Filmore, Joshua 1-7; Duplessis, Jimmie 0-1; Jenkins, Cedric 0-2).
Fouled out—Northwestern State-None, Southeastern La.-None.
Rebounds--Northwestern State 37 (Woodley, Zeek 9), Southeastern La. 35 (Upson, DeVonte 10).
Assists—Northwestern State 15 (West, Jalan 4), Southeastern La. 8 (Jackson, Zay 4).
Total fouls--Northwestern State 21, Southeastern La. 19.
Technical fouls--Northwestern State-Thompson, Sabri, Southeastern La.-Upson, DeVonte; TEAM 2.
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