HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana dropped an 89-69 decision Monday to Stephen F. Austin to open Southland Conference play at the University Center.

Despite matching SFA (9-5, 2-0 Southland) in shooting percentage in the first half, Southeastern (2-12, 0-1 Southland) found itself down by 10 at the half.

The Lions jumped out to an early lead, 7-5, on Zay Jackson's layup at the 17:40 mark, but SFA embarked on a 12-2 run over the next five minutes. Down, 19-9, Southeastern answered with eight-straight points, pulling back within a basket on Joshua Filmore's 3-pointer at the 10:02 mark.

Over the next five minutes the Lumberjacks outscored Southeastern by eight, opening up a double-digit lead once again, 34-24.

With a little back-and-forth over the final five minutes of the half, Southeastern held the deficit to 43-33 heading into the locker room at halftime thanks in part to shooting 50 percent from the floor (12-of-24).

SFA scored the first six points of the second half and slowly started to pull away from the Lions with a lock-down defense. Southeastern converted just two field goals in the first 14 minutes of the second half, doubling that total on Jordan Capps jumper at the 6:17 mark and Jackson's 3-pointer with 5:44 to play in regulation.

Jackson, one of five Lions with double-digit points, scored 14 to lead Southeastern. Capps (13), Filmore (13), Marlain Veal (11) and Mo Greenwood (10) were the other leading scorers for the Lions. Veal led the squad with a career-high seven rebounds.

Southeastern shot 44.4 percent (20-of-45) from the floor, including 30 percent (6-of-20) from 3-point range. The Lions were 23-of-33 (69.7 percent) from the free throw line.

Clide Geffrard led all players with 20 points and eight rebounds. Demetrious Floyd (13), Ty Charles (12) and TJ Holyfield (11) all scored in double figures for the Lumberjacks.

SFA shot 51.6 percent (33-of-64) from the floor, including 44.8 percent (13-of-29) from 3-point range. The Lumberjacks were 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded Southeastern, 34-29.

Southeastern returns to the road for a pair of Southland Conference contests before its next home game. The Lions will face Houston Baptist at 7 p.m Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader and then travels to Sam Houston State for a 6:30 p.m. game Monday.

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (9-5, 2-0 SLC)
Geffrard, Clide 7-13 2-2 20; Floyd, Demetrious 4-11 2-2 13; Charles, Ty 4-7 3-4 12; Holyfield, TJ 4-6 3-3 11; Walkup, Thomas 4-8 0-1 9; Cameron, Dallas 3-6 0-0 8; Johnson, Jared 3-6 0-0 8; Grujic, Jovan 1-2 0-0 2; Bain, Nathan 1-1 0-0 2; Pinkney, Trey 1-1 0-0 2; Johnson, Lasani 1-1 0-0 2; Smith, JaQuan 0-0 0-0 0; Williams, CJ 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 33-64 10-12 89.

SOUTHEASTERN LA. (2-12, 0-1 SLC)
Jackson, Zay 4-10 5-6 14; Filmore, Joshua 4-8 2-2 13; Capps, Jordan 5-7 3-6 13; Veal, Marlain 2-7 7-9 11; Greenwood, Mo 3-4 4-6 10; Hawkins, Mike 2-9 0-0 6; Nelson, Dominic 0-0 2-4 2. Totals 20-45 23-33 69.

Stephen F. Austin............. 43 46 - 89
Southeastern La............... 33 36 - 69

3-point goals--Stephen F. Austin 13-29 (Geffrard, Clide 4-5; Floyd, Demetrious 3-9; Johnson, Jared 2-4; Cameron, Dallas 2-5; Charles, Ty 1-3; Walkup, Thomas 1-2; Holyfield, TJ 0-1), Southeastern La. 6-20 (Filmore, Joshua 3-5; Hawkins, Mike 2-8; Jackson, Zay 1-5; Veal, Marlain 0-2). Fouled out--Stephen F. Austin-None, Southeastern La.-Greenwood, Mo. Rebounds--Stephen F. Austin 34 (Geffrard, Clide 8), Southeastern La. 29 (Veal, Marlain 7). Assists--Stephen F. Austin 24 (Walkup, Thomas 6), Southeastern La. 11 (Veal, Marlain 6). Total fouls--Stephen F. Austin 27, Southeastern La. 16. Technical fouls--Stephen F. Austin-None, Southeastern La.-Greenwood, Mo; Capps, Jordan. A-540