HAMMOND, La. – If recent history is any indication, Southeastern Louisiana's Southland Conference game against McNeese on Sunday in the University Center should go down to the wire.

    Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m., following the women's game against McNeese slated to start at 1 p.m.

    The past four games between the Lions (10-8, 3-2 Southland) and Cowboys (5-10, 2-2 Southland) have all been decided by five points or less. Southeastern swept the season series in 2015-16, taking an 82-80 win in Hammond and a 79-76 overtime win in Lake Charles. McNeese took three games in 2014-15, including a 62-60 overtime win in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament.

    "We've had some classics with McNeese and I don't expect Sunday to be any different," Southeastern head coach Jay Ladner said. "They have what I consider the best overall guard corps in the league and they cause a lot of problems for us. We're coming off a long trip (to Abilene Christian on Thursday) and that takes a lot out of you so we're going to have to really be on top of things. It's going to be another tough Southland game. There are certainly no games in the league for any team that are easy. There is a lot of parity in the league."

    Sunday'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.

    The game will feature a Cane's Challenge. If the Lions score 60 points or more, fans can take their game tickets or student coupons to either Hammond Raising Cane's by the close of business on Monday to receive a free combo with the purchase of another of equal or greater value.

    Southeastern will be out to continue its success at home. The Lions are 7-0 at home in 2016-17 and have won 14 straight in Hammond. Southeastern has not lost in the University Center since a 75-71 setback against Incarnate Word on Jan. 16, 2016.

    The Lions are opening a three-game homestand after spending the past three games on the road. Southeastern overcame a 12-point first-half deficit in a 56-50 win at Abilene Christian on Thursday, the largest the Lions have come back from this season. Southeastern also won its first game of the season in nine tries when it trailed at the half and picked up its 10th win on the second earliest date in school history. The 2004-05 team won its 10th on Jan. 8.

    Junior forward James Currington scored 13 points while grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Marlain Veal also scored 13 points and had seven assists. Junior guard Jabbar Singleton had nine points

    Southeastern goes into Sunday's game averaging 71.7 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting. The Lions continue to lead the league in scoring defense (67.8 ppg) and are second in field goal percentage defense (42.7 percent).

    Projected starters for Southeastern are Veal (13.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.7 spg), junior forward/guard Davon Hayes (12.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Singleton (4.0 ppg, 50 assists), sophomore forward Moses Greenwood (12.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .581 FG%), and Currington (9.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg).

    Coming off the bench are senior center Dominic Nelson (4.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.28 bpg), junior forward Eddy Polanco (8.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg), sophomore guard Dimi Cook (3.6 ppg, 22 assists), junior guard George Brock (2.4 ppg), and freshman guards Chris Mejia (2.5 ppg) and Michael Corchiani (2.1 ppg).

    McNeese is playing for the first time since losing its second straight, 60-49, at Houston Baptist last Saturday. In that game, senior guard Jamaya Burr led the Cowboys with 11 points. Sophomore guard Jarren Greenwood added nine and junior forward Stephen Ugochukwu eight. Senior guard Lance Potier had a team-high eight rebounds.

    Starting for McNeese are Burr (11.3 ppg, 57 assists, 20 steals), a third-team All-Southland selection in 2015-16; Ugochukwu (9.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 12 blocks) 13 steals; Sophomore guard James Harvey (8.1 ppg), an Amite High School alum; Potier (6.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg); and junior forward LaBarrius Hill (4.9 ppg, 17 blocks). Greenwood (10.0 ppg, 35 assists) and freshman guard Kalob Ledoux (9.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) are the top scorers off the bench.

    McNeese is averaging 68.9 points per game on 39.6 percent shooting. The Cowboys are allowing 79.9 points overall on 43.4 percent shooting, third-best in the conference. McNeese is first in both field goal percentage defense (.341) and 3-point field goal defense (.163) since the start of league play.

    The Cowboys are averaging 34.3 rebounds while allowing 45.2. They are dishing out 10.6 assists while averaging 13.7 turnovers. Defensively, McNeese is blocking 3.3 shots, grabbing 5.6 steals and forcing 14.3 turnovers.

    McNeese leads Southeastern, 64-43, in the Lions' second-most played series.