HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana will look to build off the best November in program history when it travels to in-state rival Louisiana Tech Saturday for a 6 p.m. tip-off in the Thomas Assembly Center.

    The game between the Lions (5-3) and Bulldogs (3-3) 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 Louisiana Tech, will be accessible on the men's basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

    The Lions went 5-3 in November, setting a school record for wins in the month. It is also the best start for the squad since the 2011-12 season.

    Southeastern picked up win number five while extending its home winning streak to 11 with an 85-75 win over Maryland Eastern Shore Wednesday night.

    Junior guard Eddy Polanco scored 18 of his career-high 21 points in the first half. He also set a career high with nine rebounds and tied his best with three assists. Sophomore guard Marlain Veal added 17 points, four assists and three steals. Junior guard Davon Hayes went 10-of-13 from the line in contributing 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Senior center Dominic Nelson pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds and blocked five shots while adding nine points.  

    Veal is fifth in the Southland Conference in scoring (16.9 ppg), second in assists (34) and fourth in steals (14). He leads the league in field goals made (45) and points (135). Nelson is the conference leader in total rebounds (67). He ranks second in blocks (19) and fourth in rebounds per game (8.4) while averaging 6.1 points per contest.

    Hayes comes in averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds with 17 assists. Sophomore forward Moses Greenwood is shooting 60 percent from the field, while averaging 10.9 points and 6.0 rebounds with 10 steals. Junior guard Jabbar Singleton has dished out 22 assists while averaging 4.8 points.

    Polanco is scoring 8.6 points coming off the bench. Also in reserve are junior guard George Brock (1.5 ppg), sophomore guard Dimi Cook (3.6 ppg) and freshmen guards Chris Mejia (3.1 ppg) and Michael Corchiani (3.1 ppg).

    The Lions are averaging 75.6 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting - second best in the Southland - and are first in total rebounds (297). They are also first in the league in both free throw attempts (205) and made (142) as well as 3-point percentage (41.4).

    Southeastern leads the conference in scoring defense (67.5 ppg). The Lions have held teams to 40.1 percent shooting, second best in the conference, and have forced 117 turnovers.

    Turnovers have been a key for Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs have committed a league-low 30 turnovers while forcing 89, including a conference-best 7.7 steals a game.

    Louisiana Tech is shooting 42.2 percent in averaging 71.5 points per game. The Bulldogs are allowing 65.0 points, second-best in C-USA, on 40.2 percent shooting. They are averaging 38.5 rebounds while allowing 37.2.

    Senior forward Erik McCree, a preseason All-Conference USA selection, and junior guard Jacobi Boykins are among seven letterwinners returning from a squad that went 23-10 and tied for third in the conference with a 12-6 mark in Eric Konkol's first season as head coach. The Bulldogs played in the Vegas 16, losing to East Tennessee State, 88-83.

    McCree leads the Bulldogs with 13.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while Boykins is averaging 13.7 points with a conference-high 12 steals.

    Expected to join McCree and Boykins in the starting five are junior forward Omar Sherman (10.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), sophomore guard Derric Jean (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 30 assists, 10 steals) and redshirt-senior guard Qiydar Davis (5.0 ppg). Freshman guard DaQuan Bracey ranks third in the country with an 8.0 assist/turnover ratio with 24 assists and three turnovers.

    Louisiana Tech had a two-game win streak snapped with a 68-59 overtime loss at California on Wednesday. Jean had 13 points and Boykins 12 while McCree recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

    "I think in terms of size, athletic ability and skill level, they may be the best team we play," Southeastern head coach Jay Ladner said. "They took Cal to overtime and lost by nine. They are very impressive. They are extremely quick, athletic, long and skilled. We're going to have to play our best game of the year to even have a shot."

    The Lions and Bulldogs have met 54 times, the fifth-most played series for Southeastern. Louisiana Tech leads the series, 36-18, after winning the most recent meeting, 99-62, in Ruston on Nov. 28, 2012. Southeastern came away with a 72-69 overtime win in Hammond on Nov. 30, 2011.

    After Saturday, Southeastern will take a break for exams before hosting Florida A&M on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the University Center.