NATCHITOCHES, La. – Southeastern Louisiana shaves 19 points off Northwestern State's game-high 20 point lead in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Lions fell by a score of 92-79 in Southland Conference play Monday at Prather Coliseum.
Southeastern (9-20, 6-10 Southland) used a 23-4 run early in the second half to claw within one of Northwestern State (17-10, 12-4 Southland).
Down 44-31 at the half, Southeastern quickly fell behind by 20 as the Demons scored seven points in a 57 second span right after halftime.
Daniel Grieves hit a 3-pointer at the 18:16 mark to spark the Lion run. Scoring 15 straight at one point, Southeastern pulled within one, 55-54, on
DeVonte Upson's layup with 13:23 to play.
Less than two-and-a-half minutes later, however, Northwestern State had pushed its lead back to double digits and held it there for the most of the remainder of the game.
Cedric Jenkins, a senior guard from LaPlace, Louisiana, scored a career-high 25 points to lead four Lions in double-digit scoring.
Onochie Ochie, a senior forward from Albany, Georgia, turned in a double-double performance with 16 points and 11 rebounds, tying a career best. Upson, a senior forward from Amarillo, Texas, added 16 points and nine rebounds. Grieves, a junior forward from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, chipped in 12 points.
The Lions shot 52.8 percent from the floor (28-of-53), including 25 percent from three-point range (3-of-12). Southeastern converted 20-of-24 from the free throw line (83.3 percent) and out-rebounded Northwestern State, 40-25.
Zeek Woodley's 21 points led four Demons in double-digit scoring. Sabri Thompson scored 18; Tony Dobbison added 16 and Jalan West chipped in 13 points. West also turned in a double-double performance, dishing out 10 assists.
The Demons shot 45.7 percent from the floor (32-of-70), including 47.1 percent from three-point range (16-of-34). Northwestern State converted 12-of-12 from the free throw line (100 percent).
Southeastern wraps up the regular season with games March 5 at UNO and March 7 against Nicholls State at the University Center.
SOUTHEASTERN LA. (9-20, 6-10 SLC)
Jenkins, Cedric 10-17 4-4 25; Upson, DeVonte 7-11 2-2 16; Ochie, Onochie 6-9 4-5 16; Grieves, Daniel 3-5 5-6 12; Duplessis, Jimmie 1-3 5-6 7; Maggio, Dylon 1-6 0-1 3; Lobell, Justin 0-0 0-0 0; Barclay, Bret 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-53 20-24 79.
NORTHWESTERN STATE (17-10, 12-4 SLC)
Woodley, Zeek 8-13 2-2 21; Thompson, Sabri 5-10 4-4 18; Dobbinson, Tony 6-9 0-0 16; West, Jalan 5-12 0-0 13; Killian, Matt 3-6 0-0 7; Joseph, Tra'von 0-2 6-6 6; Welcome, Ta'Jon 2-6 0-0 4; Frazier, Marvin 1-4 0-0 3; King, Ryan 1-1 0-0 2; Hall, Devonte 1-5 0-0 2; LeBato, Matt 0-2 0-0 0; Guest, Paxson 0-0 0-0 0; Adekunle, Deji 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-70 12-12 92.
Southeastern La............... 31 48 - 79
Northwestern State.......... 44 48 - 92
3-point goals--Southeastern La. 3-12 (Maggio, Dylon 1-4; Grieves, Daniel 1-3; Jenkins, Cedric 1-3; Duplessis, Jimmie 0-1; Barclay, Bret 0-1), Northwestern State 16-34 (Thompson, Sabri 4-7; Dobbinson, Tony 4-6; West, Jalan 3-5; Woodley, Zeek 3-4; Frazier, Marvin 1-3; Killian, Matt 1-3; LeBato, Matt 0-2; Hall, Devonte 0-1; Welcome, Ta'Jon 0-2; Joseph, Tra'von 0-1). Fouled out--Southeastern La.-Ochie, Onochie, Northwestern State-None. Rebounds--Southeastern La. 40 (Ochie, Onochie 11), Northwestern State 25 (West, Jalan 6). Assists--Southeastern La. 12 (Duplessis, Jimmie 4), Northwestern State 19 (West, Jalan 10). Total fouls--Southeastern La. 16, Northwestern State 17. Technical fouls--Southeastern La.-None, Northwestern State-None. A-1921
