HAMMOND, La. – The reigning Southland Conference Champion Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team battled their way past Delta State 68-63 in an exhibition game Tuesday night at the University Center.
 
Senior Moses Greenwood led the Lions with 21 points and 14 rebounds. The Sharon, Mississippi native shot 7-for-9 from the free-throw line to add to his night. Keith Charleston was equally terrific scoring 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
 
"Whatever you can think of to say about somebody you admire, that is Moses Greenwood," said SLU men's head basketball coach Jay Ladner. "He is a workhorse that plays every game like the emotional leader that he is. It gets tough sometimes to find the adjectives to describe him because he just refuses to ever quit or give in or let somebody out work him. And Keith was right there with him tonight. He was all over the paint too. Those two are going to really cause some problems for our opponents because their engines never stop running."
 
The Statesmen fought hard the entire night leading 34-33 at halftime. The game was up for grabs tied at 63-63 with 3:09 remaining until the Lions' defense clamped down. The defending conference champions held Delta State scoreless the rest of the way.
 
Greenwood sealed the win hitting two free throws and then ripping down an offensive rebound and laying it up in the final minute to give SLU a 67-63.
 
"Delta State is so well coached," said Ladner. "There is a reason most Division-I teams won't schedule them. But with that being said it was still a win-win situation. We got to play a really good team and get great experience for our young guys. I thought our guys played hard even though we didn't shoot the ball particularly well and they had a lot to do with that. But I thought our defense was pretty good too. I thought it was a great learning situation for us and my hats off to Delta State for a terrific game."
 
Junior Von Julien chipped in 11 points and helped run the offense in the absence of Marlain Veal.
 
Veal, the senior from New Orleans, Louisiana, missed Tuesday's game due to a leg injury he sustained in a scrimmage against ULM last week. He was held out for precautionary measures by Ladner. Julien, the Reserve, Louisiana native, filled in nicely adding nine assists.
 
"We got to see what Von was all about last year in his sit-out year," said Ladner. "He is a dynamic playmaker out there and quarterbacks our offense. It's really going to be something to see every time he and Marlain set foot on the floor together."
 
The Lions shot 24-for-51 for 47.1 percent. SLU held Delta State to 25-for-58 for 43.1 percent.
 
Southeastern will have a week to prepare for the season-opener Tuesday, Nov. 6 at LSU at 7:30 p.m.
                                                                       ``                                                                                  
HARDWOOD CLUB/S CLUB
 
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the basketball program are encouraged to join the Hardwood Club.  Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letterwinners.
 
All membership fees and donations to Hardwood Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern basketball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Basketball, follow @SLU_Hoops and @CoachLadner on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.