HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana had four players in double figures as the Lions extended their home winning streak to 13 games with a 75-53 victory over Abilene Christian in the Southland Conference opener Saturday afternoon in the University Center.

    Junior forward Eddy Polanco hit five 3-pointers to lead Southeastern (8-6, 1-0) with 17 points. Junior forward James Currington added a career-high 14 points while sophomore forward Moses Greenwood had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Dimi Cook contributed a season-high 10 points and three assists. Sophomore guard Marlain Veal had five assists and junior guard Davon Hayes and freshman guard Michael Corchiani four apiece as the Lions had 20 assists versus 14 turnovers.

    "It was a great team effort," Southeastern head coach Jay Ladner said. "One thing I have been very much proud of is that throughout the course of the year, there has been an attitude on our team of they don't really care who gets the credit."

    Southeastern, which won its conference opener for the first time since the 2010-11 season, shot 55.8 percent from the field and out-rebounded Abilene Christian, 36-22.

    The Wildcats (6-7, 0-2) were led by Hayden Farquhar with 13 points. Jaylen Franklin had 11 points and tied Jaren Lewis for the team high with three rebounds. ACU shot 40 percent from the field in losing its fourth straight.

    Southeastern grabbed a 40-24 halftime lead, but Abilene Christian used a 14-4 run to pull to with 44-38 with 14:02 remaining. Farquhar drilled a pair of 3s, the second just beating the shot clock, and Franklin had four points to key the run.

    Polanco knocked down a pair of 3s to help Southeastern regain a 52-40 lead at the 11:12 mark. Drake Green responded with a 3 but that would be the Wildcats' last field goal until Farquhar drained a 3 with 5:23 remaining. Cook hit a pair of jumpers and Currington scored off a Corchiani pass to give Southeastern a 63-43 lead with 6:12 left.

    After two Cook free throws made it 69-46, ACU got to within 69-51 on two B.J. Maxwell free throws with 3:19 left. But Currington ended any chances of a Wildcat comeback with a jumper and dunk. A Cook jumper gave the Lions their biggest lead at 75-51 with 1:54 remaining.

    Franklin drove in to give ACU its last lead at 5-4 at the 16:11 mark of the first half. Southeastern came back with a 9-2 run as the Lions held the Wildcats to one field goal – a Isaiah Tripp layup - over a 6:17 span. Three Greenwood baskets and a 3 by junior guard Jabbar Singleton gave the Lions a 13-7 lead with 12:26 left in the half.

    Friday's jumper cut the margin to 17-12 with 8:22 remaining before Corchiani answered with a 3. A dunk by senior center Dominic Nelson and a pair of 3s by Polanco forced ACU to call a timeout at the 5:38 mark with Southeastern leading 28-15.

    Polanco made it 31-15 with another 3 with 5:28 left. A jumper by Diamante Langston pulled ACU to within 33-20 with 3:21 remaining. But Veal hit a 3 and added a layup as the Lions took a 40-24 lead into the half.

    Southeastern will next host UIW Monday at 2 p.m. The Cardinals are the last team to defeat the Lions in the University Center, taking a 75-71 victory on Jan. 16, 2016.

    Monday'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.