BERKELEY, Calif. – Southeastern Louisiana closes out a three-game western road trip when it visits California for a 7 p.m. tip-off in Haas Pavilion on Sunday.
The game will be on the Pac-12 Networks. It will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app. Live stats, provided by California, will be accessible on the men's basketball schedule page at
www.LionSports.net.
The Lions (4-2) have split their previous two games on the trip, defeating UTEP 72-56 on Wednesday before losing at Colorado State 67-59 on Friday.
Sophomore guard
Marlain Veal finished with 20 points while junior guard
Eddy Polanco had a career-high 15 for Southeastern against Colorado State. The Lions rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half to get as close as eight in having a three-game win streak snapped.
Veal is averaging 19.3 points to go with 27 assists and 11 steals. Sophomore forward
Moses Greenwood is averaging 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds while junior guard
Davon Hayes is scoring 12.8 points a game. Senior
Dominic Nelson (5.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg) is the team's leader in blocks (14) after getting four in each of the past two games. The Lions are averaging 77.5 points per game on 49.5 percent shooting and are plus-7.8 in rebounding margin.
Defensively, Southeastern is allowing opponents 66.3 points a contest on 39.9 percent shooting and have forced 90 turnovers, 44 coming on steals.
Veal, Nelson, Greenwood, Hayes and junior guard
Jabbar Singleton (4.5 ppg, 20 assists) will be the Lions' starters on Friday. Coming off the bench will be Polanco (7.0 ppg), junior guard
George Brock (1.7 ppg), sophomore guard
Dimi Cook (2.0 ppg) and freshmen guards
Chris Mejia (4.2 ppg) and
Michael Corchiani (1.8 ppg).
California (3-1) is bringing back seven letterwinners and two starters from the 2015-16 squad that went 23-11 overall. The Bears tied for third in the Pac-12 with a 12-6 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament. Cal advanced to the NCAA Tournament before losing in the first round to Hawaii.
Sophomore forward Ivan Rabb, an AP Preseason All-American, saw his first action of the season in a 77-65 loss to San Diego State on Monday. He is averaging 15.5 points and 10.5 points through his first two games.
Freshman guard Charlie Moore, who was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday, leads the Bears with 19.8 points per game and six steals and is tied for the team lead with 10 assists. Guard Grant Mullins (11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), junior center Kameron Rooks (6.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 9 blocks) and senior guard Stephen Domingo (4.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) round out the projected starting five for the Bears.
California is averaging 73.2 points on 40.7 percent shooting. The Bears have allowed 64.0 points on 36.7 shooting and have out-rebounded opponents by a 15.0 margin (45.5-30.5).
California bounced back from the loss to San Diego State to defeat Wyoming 71-61 on Friday. Moore had 18 points and six assists and Rabb a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Mullins added 14 points while senior forward Roger Moute a Bidias came off the bench to score 12. Junior center Kingsley Okorah blocked five shots, giving him 12 on the season.
"They're one of the best teams in the country, one of the most talented teams in the country," Southeastern head coach
Jay Ladner said. "Coach (Cuonzo) Martin does a great job coaching them. They are going to play hard and be a great challenge for us. But so far, Southeastern and our community can be proud of this team. They are battling, they don't make excuses. We have key guys down and you haven't heard one player say, 'Well, if we would have had this or had that.' They just go about their business and go out there and do every they are supposed to. I expect no different at Cal."
Friday's game will be the first meeting between Southeastern and California.
Southeastern returns home to play Maryland-Eastern Shore for Study Break Night on Wednesday. The first 300 students in attendance will receive a study pack.
