NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team opens another season of Southland Conference play, its first under head coach
Jay Ladner, Monday at defending conference champion Stephen F. Austin.
Southeastern (3-10) and the Lumberjacks (11-3, 1-0 Southland) tip at 8 p.m., approximately, as the second half of a doubleheader at William R. Johnson Coliseum featuring the Lady Lion and Ladyjack squads.
Both games of the doubleheader can be heard in the Hammond, Louisiana, area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone app. Live statistics, courtesy SFA, will also be provided as will streaming video (subscription required). Links for audio, stats and video are available on the basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
The Lions have struggled in non-conference action against one of the toughest schedules in the nation, playing 11-of-13 games so far on the road against competition that includes nationally-ranked Gonzaga and Oklahoma.
Last time out, the Lions picked up an 88-47 exhibition win over Dillard at the University Center on Dec. 29. Senior forwards
Onochie Ochie and
DeVonte Upson led Southeastern with 16 points each. Upson's point total tied a career high, turning in several dunks.
Zay Jackson (15.7 points per game),
Joshua Filmore (13.2 ppg), Upson (9.8 ppg) and
Andrew Guillory (8.5 ppg) lead Southeastern on offense. Jackson (4.0 assists per game) and Filmore (2.2 apg) have split time running the point. Upson is averaging a team-best 8.0 rebounds per contest, second most in the Southland Conference. Filmore's 2.7 three-pointers per game is also ranks second in the conference.
The Lions are shooting 42.6 percent from the floor (312-of-733), 31.2 percent from three-point range (84-of-269) and 68.7 percent on free throws (145-of-211). Southeastern is averaging 32.9 rebounds per game.
The Lumberjacks defeated McNeese State, 80-75, Saturday at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to open conference action with their 10th-consecutive overall win. The victory over the Cowboys was also the 24th-straight regular season win in Southland play for SFA.
Jacob Parker (13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Thomas Walkup (11.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) lead the conference's preseason favorite. Thomas Pinkney hands out an average of 3.3 assists per contest. The Lumberjacks are shooting 44.6 percent (337-of-756) overall, 35.8 percent (111-of-310) from beyond the arc and 72.8 percent (219-of-301) from the charity stripe.
SFA is averaging 34.6 rebounds per contest and has outscored opponents by almost 11 points per game.
Southeastern was the last team to knock off the Lumberjacks in regular season conference action, 54-50, at the University Center on February 16, 2013.
Following the SFA contest, Southeastern returns home to host back-to-back games for the first time this season. Houston Baptist comes to the University Center for a 7 p.m. tip Saturday that is part of another conference doubleheader. The Lions will host Sam Houston State, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m.
