Central Arkansas (5-9, 0-1 Southland) at Southeastern (4-10, 0-1 Southland)
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 | 4 p.m. | Hammond, La. | University Center (7,500)
Series History: Southeastern leads 16-7
Last Meeting: Lions 89, Bears 84 – (Feb. 3, 2018 – Hammond, La.)
Television: None
Radio: KSLU-FM 90.9             
            Announcer: Chris Salim
Live Video
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HAMMOND, La. – The reigning Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team returns home Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. when they host Central Arkansas at the University Center.
 
Southeastern will look to snap a six-game losing streak Saturday against UCA as they open the home portion of the Southland Conference schedule.
 
The Lions have lost their last four games by a combined 10 points including falling at the buzzer to UL Lafayette, Grambling State and Bradley.
 
SLU (4-10, 0-1 Southland), despite a career-high 16 points from sophomore Brandon Gonzalez, dropped the conference opener Wednesday to reigning Southland Conference Tournament champion Stephen F. Austin, 65-60, on the road. Junior Von Julien scored 13 points and added four assists.
 
Kajon Brown, a 6-5 junior from Harvey, Louisiana, has taken on the role of the sixth man. The BYU transfer is averaging 8.5 points and is shooting 12-for-23 for 52 percent in the last four games.
 
"He has just seemed way more comfortable coming off the bench," said fifth-year SLU men's head basketball coach Jay Ladner. "We tried starting him earlier in the year and he did fine but he's been more productive in that sixth man role. It's great to have a guy with that kind of size and athleticism to bring off the bench."
 
The Lions have been dynamic on the defensive end. SLU has held their last four opponents to a combined 85-for-216 for 39% shooting.
 
"I think we've gotten better every game defensively," said Ladner. "And we've done it against some high level competition. We're certainly a lot better than we were early in the year but I still think we can get a lot better. But if our guys continue to buy in on that side of the ball and rebound like we have then we will continue to improve."
 
While SLU's defense has been superb, the Lions have struggled from the free throw line shooting 50-for-82 for 61 percent and have committed 76 turnovers over the last four games.
 
"Both of those stats are an embarrassment," said Ladner. "There is no other way to put it. It's more disturbing in who is missing the free throws and turning it over because it's coming from the seasoned veterans on this team. But I think if everybody on this team including coaches commits to doing just a little more we will be fine in the long run."
 
The Bears (5-9, 0-1 Southland) made 15 three-pointers in an 87-75 loss Wednesday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. UCA's DeAndre Jones scored 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting including five three-pointers to lead the Bears. The Lions have held opponents to just 33 percent shooting from the three-point line (81-for-242).
 
"We have been good in that area," said Ladner. "We are athletic and do a good job of getting out there and contesting. The credit goes to our assistant coaches (David Kiefer, Mike Cyprien and Kyle Roane) for their advanced scouting and making sure we are in the right places defensively. But Central Arkansas is a dynamic shooting team and always has been so we have to make sure that we continue to contest and close out on the three-pointers."
 
Jones, a 5-11 sophomore guard, leads a balanced offensive attack for UCA averaging 12.6 points a game. The Bears have four other players averaging between 11 and eight points a game.
 
After Saturday's match-up with UCA, the Lions will have a week off before returning to action Saturday, Jan. 12 at home against Abilene Christian at 4 p.m.
 
Saturday's games 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.
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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.