HAMMOND, La. – Longtime former Lion assistant coach Roman Banks returns to the University Center Friday as Southeastern Louisiana hosts his Southern basketball squad in a non-conference game at 7 p.m.
Now in his fifth season leading the Jaguars (4-1), Banks spent eight seasons at Southeastern on the staff of head coaches Billy Kennedy and Jim Yarbrough.
The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online at www.LionSports.net or via the TuneIn Radio app. Fans can also watch the game live on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream, or follow live statistics. Links for both are available on the basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Southeastern basketball (2-6) will provide a collection point for the campus "Toys from the Heart" initiative at the game. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate for the drive.
Since 2005, Southeastern's Nu Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and a fluctuating host of other organizations on Southeastern's campus have collaborated to organize the toy drive. This year, they are joined by Omicron Nu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Project P.U.L.L., Black Student Union, M.A.D.E. Men, Student Government Association, and the African American Alumni Association Chapter.
The Lions are coming off a 101-65 non-conference win over Loyola New Orleans this past Tuesday at the University Center. Seven different Lions scored in double digits with
Jordan Capps, a junior from Norcross, Georgia, turning in a double-double performance with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Zay Jackson, a senior from Hammond, leads Southeastern in scoring this season with an average of 10.1 points per game and is second in the Southland Conference with 5.6 assists per game.
Keith Charleston (8.9 ppg, 6.3 rebounds per game), a junior from Little Rock, Arkansas,
James Currington (8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and
Joshua Filmore (7.5 ppg), a junior from Orlando, Florida, round out the Lions' top scorers.
Charleston (29-for-45, .644) and Currington (27-for-47, .574), a sophomore from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, are first and fifth, respectively, in the conference in shooting percentage.
This season Southeastern is shooting 44.8 percent (198-of-442) from the floor, which ranks second-best in the Southland. The Lions are 50-of-150 (33.3 percent) from 3-point range, 108-of-175 (61.7 percent) from the free throw line and have been out-rebounded by opponents on average, 36.4-to-34 per game.
After dropping its season opener at Arkansas, Southern has picked up wins over Mississippi State, Tulane, Dillard and Paul Quinn College.
Adrian Rogers (16.4 ppg) leads four Jaguars in double-figure scoring this season. Trelun Banks (14.2 ppg), Shawn Prudhomme (13.2 ppg) and Christopher Hyder (10.6 ppg) round out Southern's top scoring threats. Jared Sam leads the squad in rebounding, averaging six boards per game.
Southern is shooting 48.2 percent (149-of-309) from the floor, including 36.9 percent (31-of-84) from 3-point range. The Jaguars are 80-of-114 (70.2 percent) from the free throw line and have been out-rebounded by opponents on average, 39.6-to-34 per game.
During Banks' time in Hammond the Lions won 140 games (second in the state to LSU's 144 wins) and achieved seven winning season seasons (most of any Louisiana Division I school in that span).
He also played a key role in the recruitment of several Lion standouts, including All-Conference selections Daryl Cohen, Kevyn Green, Terry Bryant and Patrick Sullivan along with 2005-06 Southland Conference Player of the Year Ricky Woods.
Southern assistants Morris Scott and Rodney Kirschner have also spent time on staff at Southeastern.
Advanced tickets for individual basketball games can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or through the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office, located in Room 107 of the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics. For more information, contact the ticket office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays.
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. Students and campus organizations can earn 10 points toward their new Lion Up Loyalty account at the game just by checking-in on the mobile app while in attendance.
The University Center box office opens one hour prior to tipoff.
