HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana shot a season-high 58.3 percent from the floor Monday as the Lions flew past Lamar, 98-70, in a Southland Conference game at the University Center.

"We're learning how to win," coach Jay Ladner said. "I felt we've out-played our opponent the last three games, but until tonight it just didn't work for us."

Southeastern (3-15, 1-4 Southland) snapped a 9-game skid as it held Lamar (10-8, 2-4 Southland) to an opponent-low 36.1 percent from the field.

The Lions came out firing early, hitting 7-of-10 field goal attempts to jump out in front of Lamar, 16-12, on Moses Greenwood's layup at the 13:48 mark. Greenwood, a freshman from Sharon, Mississippi, played a key part in the early advantage by converting his four shots.

Southeastern built up a double-digit lead, 22-12, when JaMichael Hawkins, a senior from Raymond, Mississippi, nailed a 3-pointer with 11:38 to play in the first half to cap an 8-0 run.

Playing lock-down defense, the Lions forced Lamar into poor shot selection. The Cardinals were shooting just over 20 percent (5-of-24) as Southeastern ran out to a 35-14 lead at the 6:09 mark on Marlain Veal's 3-point play.

Zay Jackson, a senior from Hammond, capped a 29-5 run by the Lions with 3-pointer at the 4:30 mark of the first half, putting Southeastern up, 43-17.

The Cardinals put together a little bit of offense late, but Southeastern entered halftime with a 54-27 lead.

Lamar caught fire in the second half, shaving a few points off the Lions' lead. After a sluggish start Southeastern picked back up the pace to go back up by 27, 71-44, on Jordan Capps' layup at the 10:09 mark.

The Lions would eventually stretch out its advantage to 32 points, 92-60, on a dunk by Dominic Nelson, a junior from Harlem, New York, with 2:55 left to play.

Hawkins, who tied a career high with seven 3-pointers, led all players with a season-high 24 points. Veal, a freshman from Gretna, Louisiana, contributed a career-best 17 points to go along with five assists. Greenwood (14), Jackson (13) and Capps (10), a junior from Norcross, Georgia, all reached double-figure points for the Lions.

Jackson, who played sparingly in the second half, led the team with eight rebounds and seven assists.

Southeastern shot 58.3 percent (35-of-60) from the floor, including a season-best 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from 3-point range. The Lions converted 15-of-20 (75.0 percent) from the free throw line.

Kevin Booze (15) and Josh Nzeakor (12) scored in double digits for Lamar with Nzeakor also hauling in a team-high eight rebounds.

Lamar shot 36.1 percent (26-of-72) from the floor, including 26.5 percent (9-of-34) from 3-point range. The Cardinals converted just 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded Southeastern, 42-39.

"It feels good for me, but I really feel better for out players," Ladner said. "They've had some tough luck, but have not hung their heads or felt sorry for themselves."

Southeastern returns to the court Jan. 26 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a Southland contest that will be televised by CBS Sports Network.


LAMAR (10-8, 2-4 SLC)
Booze, Kevin 6-10 2-3 15; Nzeakor, Josh 6-8 0-3 12; Owens, Marcus 3-7 0-0 9; Garth, Nick 3-13 0-0 9; Sears, Dontavious 3-9 1-2 8; Davis, Lincoln 1-4 2-6 5; Mattingly, Preston 1-3 1-2 3; Chatman, Dorian 1-6 1-2 3; Jones, Quan 1-4 0-0 2; Williams, Boaz 1-4 0-0 2; Gregory, LeMon 0-1 2-2 2; Kennedy, Christian 0-0 0-0 0; Bosha, Zjori 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 26-72 9-20 70.

SOUTHEASTERN LA. (3-15, 1-4 SLC)
Hawkins, JaMichael 8-15 1-1 24; Veal, Marlain 4-7 8-8 17; Greenwood, Moses 7-8 0-0 14; Jackson, Zay 4-10 2-2 13; Capps, Jordan 5-8 0-2 10; Cook, Dimi 3-3 2-2 8; Nelson, Dominic 2-2 1-2 5; Filmore, Joshua 1-6 1-3 4; Lobell, Justin 1-1 0-0 3; Reid, Malcolm 0-0 0-0 0; Smith, Byron 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-60 15-20 98.

Lamar.................................. 27 43 - 70
Southeastern La............... 54 44 - 98

3-point goals--Lamar 9-34 (Owens, Marcus 3-7; Garth, Nick 3-12; Booze, Kevin 1-2; Davis, Lincoln 1-2; Sears, Dontavious 1-7; Williams, Boaz 0-2; Bosha, Zjori 0-2), Southeastern La. 13-23 (Hawkins, JaMichael 7-10; Jackson, Zay 3-5; Lobell, Justin 1-1; Filmore, Joshua 1-4; Veal, Marlain 1-3). Fouled out--Lamar-None, Southeastern La.-None. Rebounds--Lamar 42 (Nzeakor, Josh 8), Southeastern La. 39 (Jackson, Zay 8). Assists--Lamar 13 (Booze, Kevin 4), Southeastern La. 25 (Jackson, Zay 7). Total fouls--Lamar 23, Southeastern La. 16. Technical fouls--Lamar-None, Southeastern La.-None. A-641