HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team, off to its best Southland Conference start since 2004-05, wraps up a three-game home stand against long-time rival Northwestern State Saturday at 5 p.m. in the University Center.

    The Lions (11-8, 5-1 Southland) have matched the 2003-04 and 2004-05 squads for the best conference record through six games since joining the league in 1997-98, The 2004-05 team went on to win nine of its first 10 conference games while the 2003-04 team opened 6-1. Both those teams went on to win the conference regular season title.

    Southeastern bounced back from its first conference loss with an 85-69 win over Houston Baptist on Wednesday. Senior forward Jordan Capps poured in a career-high 31 points while senior guard Joshua Filmore tied a career-high with seven 3-pointers in adding 22 points. Junior guard Marlain Veal also tied a career high with 10 assists while contributing five steals and eight rebounds. Senior forward James Currington had eight rebounds and nine points. The Lions shot 53.4 percent from the field and out-rebounded HBU, 37-32.

    Northwestern State (3-14, 0-6 Southland) dropped its ninth straight, 75-52, at Sam Houston State on Wednesday. Junior center Ishmael Lane had his sixth double-double of the season and second straight with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Senior guard Iziahiah Sweeney added 13 points while freshman center Larry Owens contributed 10.

    In conjunction with the Lady Lions' game against Northwestern State at 2 p.m., fans are encouraged to wear their gold for the Gold Out. The first 75 fans at the women's game and the first 100 fans at the men's game will receive a free gold T-shirt courtesy of Southeastern Athletics.

    The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app. LionVision subscribers can access a live video stream at www.LionSports.net/watch. Live stats will be accessible on the Southeastern men's basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
 
NOTES
Southeastern
    Northwestern State is Southeastern's most-common opponent with Saturday's game the 135th in the series dating back to the 1947-48 season. The Demons lead 85-49 after each team won on the other's court in 2016-17. Southeastern came away with a 73-66 victory in Natchitoches after Northwestern State took an 85-71 win in Hammond. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Natchitoches on Feb. 24.
 
    Southeastern is 28-35 at home against NSU.
 
    With Wednesday's win over HBU, Southeastern is now 24-1 when scoring at least 80 points in Jay Ladner's three-plus seasons as head coach. The Lions' only loss was a 91-80 loss at Abilene Christian on Feb. 21, 2016.
 
    Southeastern is averaging 72.0 points on 43.7 percent shooting overall, including 35.0 percent on 3-pointers.  Opponents are averaging 70.9 points on 43.9 percent shooting, 33.9 percent on 3s. In conference play, the Lions are holding opponents to 66.5 points, third-best in the league, on 41.1 percent shooting from the field.
 
    Southeastern is averaging 36.4 rebounds and is fourth in league play with 38.8. The Lions are giving up 35.2 boards.
 
    Capps leads the Lions and ranks 12th in the Southland with 13.5 points per game. He is also eighth in field goal percentage (.527) and 11th in blocked shots (1.1 bpg).
 
    Veal is the conference leader and ranks 27th nationally in total assists (105). He also leads the league and ranks 38th in the country in assists per game (5.5). He is tied for third in the league and 42nd nationally with 2.2 steals per game. He also ranks 11th in assist/turnover ratio (1.5) and 21st in scoring (12.5 ppg). His three games of 10-plus assists leads the Southland.
 
    Junior forward Moses Greenwood is tied for sixth in rebounding (6.6 rpg) while averaging 8.5 points per game. Filmore is fourth in 3-pointers made per game (2.5) while senior guard Jabbar Singleton is sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.415).
 
    Veal, Capps, Filmore (9.2 ppg, 30 assists), Singleton (7.2 ppg, 47 assists) and Currington (7.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 27 steals) have started every game in conference play for the Lions.
 
Northwestern State
    Northwestern State comes in averaging 64.0 points on 39.0 percent from the field, 27.5 percent on 3s. The Demons are allowing 78.1 points on 45.4 percent shooting, 36.4 on 3-pointers. NSU is pulling down 36.7 rebounds while allowing 39.5.
 
    Lane is fourth in the conference with 7.8 rebounds per game, including a league-leading 10.7 in Southland games. He is also fourth in blocks (1.7 bpg), ninth in field goal percentage (.523) and 19th in scoring (13.1 ppg). His six double-doubles are tied for second in the conference. Sweeney is averaging 11.9 points and a team-high 4.1 rebounds per contest.
 
    Lane, Sweeney, freshman forward Darian Dixon (6.0 ppg), freshman guard C.J. Jones (4.5 ppg) and junior guard Malik Metoyer (3.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg) are the expected starters for NSU.
 
    Mike McConathy is in his 19th season as head coach of the Demons.               
 
UP NEXT:
    Southeastern travels to Huntsville, Texas Wednesday to take on Sam Houston State at 6:30 p.m. in the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.