Southeastern (5-12, 1-3 Southland) at McNeese (6-12, 2-3 Southland)
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2019 | 1:30 p.m. | Lake Charles, La. | H&HP Complex (4,000)
Series History: McNeese leads 64-46
Last Meeting: Lions 74, McNeese 67 – (Feb. 10, 2018 – Lake Charles, La.)
Television: None
Radio: KSLU-FM 90.9                                 
            Announcer: Chris Salim

Live Audio
Live Stats

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The reigning Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team opens a three-game road trip Saturday afternoon against McNeese at 1:30 p.m. at H&HP Complex.
 
The Lions (5-12, 1-3 Southland) are coming off a 76-69 win Wednesday at home over Lamar. Senior Marlain Veal, a New Orleans, Louisiana native and Helen Cox High School grad, led the Lions with 22 points while senior Moses Greenwood added 16. SLU outrebounded LU, 36-27, and shot 18-for-22 (81 percent) from the free throw line.
 
Southeastern is led by Greenwood (6-7, F, 220, Sharon, Mississippi) in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.4). Veal, the Lions' third ranked scorer in program history, is averaging 15.5. SLU's Brandon Gonzalez has become a viable third option for the Lions scoring 10.6 points per game in his last seven games since being inserted into the starting lineup.
 
The Lions will look to continue their stellar free throw shooting Saturday. Southeastern is 66-for-77 (86 percent) from the charity stripe in four Southland Conference games.
 
The Cowboys (6-12, 2-3 Southland) defeated Nicholls, 86-75, thanks to 25 points and 12 rebounds from Veal's former high school team Roydell Brown.
 
McNeese has four players averaging in double figures for the season led by senior guard James Harvey (12.7 ppg). The Amite, Louisiana native is shooting 38 percent (49-129) from the three-point line and 94 percent from the free throw line (35-for-37). Sharmarkus Kennedy is second in scoring (12.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) while Brown has recorded nine double-doubles averaging 12.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Malik Hines (6-10, C, 255, Jackson, Mississippi) is averaging 10.6 a game.
 
SLU and McNeese split two games last year with the Cowboys winning at Southeastern, 71-64, Jan. 13, 2018. The Lions shot a season-low 26 percent (16-for-61) as MSU handed SLU their first conference loss of the season. Southeastern returned the favor defeating the Cowboys on the road, 74-67, Feb. 10. The Lions led by as much as 12, 59-47, when McNeese rallied back to cut the SLU lead to 63-62. Veal and Greenwood scored the final 11 points to hold off the Cowboys.
 
After Saturday's game, SLU will face Houston Baptist Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on the road.
 
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.
 
INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN BASKETBALL WITH JAY LADNER
Each Monday night at 7 p.m., beginning Jan. 7th, 'Inside Southeastern Basketball with Jay Ladner' broadcasts live on 90.9 KSLU 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.