Southeastern Louisiana (4-8) vs. UL Lafayette (8-4)
Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018 | 4 p.m. | Hammond, La. | University Center (7,500)
Series History: UL Lafayette leads 32-20
Last Meeting: UL Lafayette 82, Lions 74 – (Dec. 19, 2017 – Lafayette, La.)
Television: None
Radio: KSLU-FM 90.9
            Announcer: Chris Salim

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Game Notes

HAMMOND, La. – The reigning Southland Conference Champion Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team wraps up the non-conference schedule at the University Center Saturday at 4 p.m. against in-state rival UL Lafayette.
 
After a week off, the Lions (4-8) are looking to bounce back after consecutive losses in the final seconds at Grambling State, 68-67, and Bradley, 63-60. Southeastern never trailed in either game until GSU hit two free throws with two seconds left and Bradley's Darrell Brown drilled a three-pointer with four seconds left.
 
Despite the tough outcomes, Southeastern has begun to find some depth in their rotation. Sophomore Brandon Gonzalez (F, 6-6, 200) has filled in nicely the last two games as the fifth starter. The Punta Gorda, Florida native has scored 17 points and made five three-pointers the last two games.
 
"I think Brandon is a great example of someone who has taken advantage of an opportunity," said fifth-year SLU men's head basketball coach Jay Ladner. "Especially for his first two starts of his college career against conference championship caliber teams like Grambling and Bradley, he has really carried himself well. He's really given us some stability with his ability to shoot the three-pointer."
 
Sophomore Pape Diop (F, 6-9, 205), the Sengal native, played a season-high 29 minutes, scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Bradley.
 
"Pape is a guy that plays hard and practices hard every day," said Ladner. "We got into some foul trouble and Pape was ready to go and took advantage of his opportunity. He's a guy that, in the long run, I know is going to have a great career but  also in the short term we know he is ready to help us for the conference season."
 
The Lions look ahead to Saturday where they will face the Ragin' Cajuns (8-4) under ninth-year head coach Bob Marlin. UL Lafayette finished 27-7 and won the Sun Belt Conference regular season title in 2017-18.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns (8-4) have the 25^th-ranked offense in the country averaging 84.2 points per game and have four players averaging double figures in scoring led by senior Jakeenan Gant. The transfer from the University of Missouri leads UL Lafayette in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounds (7.2). The 6-8, 250-pound forward has also been a force in the paint blocking 35 shots in 11 games.
 
Seniors Malik Marquetti (14.8 ppg) and Marcus Stroman (12.7 ppg) and junior Justin Miller (10.5 ppg) help pace the high-powered Ragin' Cajuns' offense.
 
"They've really established themselves as one of the top programs in the Sun Belt Conference," said Ladner. "They were a lot like us last year winning their regular season conference championship and then making it to the NIT so we're really excited about having a team of this caliber come to our gym to play."
 
Southeastern and UL Lafayette met last year at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana with the Ragin' Cajuns winning 82-74. The Lions jumped out to a 27-14 lead in the first half but UL Lafayette responded with a 17-2 run to take a 31-29 lead at halftime. SLU regained the lead with 16 minutes remaining, 37-35. The Ragin' Cajuns, however, took control going on a 12-2 run to take a 47-39 lead. The Lions never got closer than six the rest of the way as UL Lafayette hung on for the win.
 
Senior Marlain Veal led the Lions with 23 points while Moses Greenwood added 14. The Ragin' Cajuns had six players in double figures led by Gant with 14.
 
Saturday's game will be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the Lions Game Day Experience, TuneIn Radio and RadioFX apps.
 
After Saturday's match-up with the Ragin' Cajuns, the Lions will prepare for the Southland Conference opener Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against reigning conference tournament champion Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas.  
 
JAY LADNER RADIO SHOW
 
Each Monday night at 7 p.m., beginning January 7th, Inside Southeastern Basketball with Jay Ladner broadcasts LIVE from Rainbow Daiquiris at 14384 West Thomas Street. Talk college hoops with Coach Ladner and host Allen Waddell, cover the finer points of each game and preview upcoming games. If you can't join the crowd, you can submit a question at www.LionSports.Net for the "Ask the Coach" segment. Inside Southeastern Basketball with Jay Ladner airs each Monday night during the Lions' Southland Conference schedule on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network.
 
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.
 
SEASON OF GIVING
Southeastern Louisiana Athletics, the Southeastern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs will hold a food drive throughout the months of November and December. Fans who bring one of the requested items to the University Center (game day only) or the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics will receive a voucher for a discounted ticket.