HAMMOND, La. – Two of the top defensive teams in the Southland Conference square off Saturday as Southeastern Louisiana opens league play against Abilene Christian at 2 p.m. in the University Center.

    Southeastern (7-6 overall, 0-0 SLC) leads the conference in scoring defense (69.2 points per game) and field goal percentage defense (42.1 percent). Abilene Christian (6-6, 0-1 SLC) ranks behind only the Lions in allowing 70.8 points per game and is holding opponents to 42.7 percent shooting from the field, third best in the league.

    Saturday's game 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. LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream at www.LionSports.net/watch. Live stats will also be available at www.LionSports.net.

    "I think in the Southland you certainly have some heavyweights in Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston and Corpus Christi, teams that have been kind of ruling the roost." Southeastern head coach Jay Ladner said of the league in 2017 following Wednesday's 64-53 non-conference finale win at Southern. "But I think there is great parity in the league from one to 13. I told my players, I don't think there is anybody we cannot beat but I also don't think there is anybody that can't beat us. So we are going to have to tighten up some small things and pay a lot attention to detail. But we are excited to start league play because as we said in the lockerroom just now, the preliminary games are over with. Now we are taking our tests and there will not be any do-overs. We have to take care of business."

    Southeastern will also be out to extend its 12-game home winning streak, the longest in the Southland. The Lions, 5-0 at home in 2016-17, have not lost in the University Center since a 75-71 setback against Incarnate Word on Jan. 16.

    Southeastern wrapped up its most successful pre-conference slate since the 2009-10 season with its win at Southern. Sophomore guard Marlain Veal poured in 22 points, junior guard Davon Hayes added 15 and sophomore forward Moses Greenwood had 12. Senior center Dominic Nelson had a game-high 11 rebounds. The Lions held the Jaguars to 34 percent shooting from the floor in breaking a two-game losing streak.

    Southeastern goes into Southland play averaging 73.6 points per game on 46.9 percent shooting - second best in the conference - and is first in the league and 14th nationally in 3-point percentage (41.1). The Lions are averaging 35.8 rebounds overall and allowing 32.5 while blocking 3.3 shots and grabbing 6.7 steals a game.

    Veal regained the team scoring lead with 14.5 points per game while ranking third in the conference in field goal percentage (50.8) and fourth in assists (53) and steals (23). Hayes (14.4 ppg) is third in the Southland in both 3-pointers made (26) and per game (2.17). He is also averaging 4.6 rebounds while recording 21 assists and 13 steals.

    Greenwood is averaging 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds, ranking sixth in the league with 2.4 offensive boards a game. Nelson (5.1 ppg) is second in the league in blocks (31), third in defensive rebounds per game (5.1) and fourth in total rebounds (96) and rebounds per game (7.4). He is 29th in the country with 2.38 blocks per game.

    Junior guard Jabbar Singleton (3.8 ppg) has dished out 41 assists.

    Abilene Christian is the conference's top shooting team in making 48 percent of its shots from the field. The Wildcats are also third in the league with a 37.1 3-point field goal percentage. ACU is averaging 32.9 rebounds, 14 assists and 14.4 turnovers a game. The Wildcats are allowing an average of 35.5 rebounds while forcing 14 turnovers, grabbing 7.8 steals and blocking 3.3 shots.

    Sophomore forward Jalen Lewis leads the Wildcats and ranks eighth in the conference in scoring (15.8 ppg) and rebounds (6.9 rpg) and is third in the league in steals (28). Freshman center Jalone Friday is fifth in blocks with 20 while averaging 13.5 points a game.

    Sophomore guard Jaylen Franklin, the 2015-16 Southland Freshman of the Year, is averaging 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds after missing three early games with an injury. He also has 26 assists and 13 steals.

    Senior guard Jovan Crnic has a team-high 40 assists while averaging 8.7 points. Junior guard Drake Green (5.3 ppg, 16 assists, 14 steals) and sophomore center Hayden Howell (4.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg) are also projected to start.

    Abilene Christian will be looking to break a three-game losing streak on Saturday. The Wildcats opened Southland play with a 75-66 loss at New Orleans on Saturday. Lewis led ACU with 19 points and eight rebounds while Friday added 10 points.

    Southeastern leads the series with Abilene Christian, 4-1. The Wildcats picked up their first win against the Lions in the last meeting between the programs, 91-80, in Abilene on Feb. 21, 2016.

    Southeastern will have a quick turnaround before hosting UIW Monday at 2 p.m. in the University Center.