FORT MYERS, Fla. – Gus Okafor scored a game-high 20 points for the Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team but the Lions couldn't overcome a 4-for-19 shooting performance from the three-point line in a 74-66 loss to Purdue Fort Wayne Friday in the first day of the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Invitational at Alico Arena.
SLU (3-3), after falling behind 4-0, roared on a 15-2 run early in the first half to take a 15-6 lead at the second media timeout (11:49) of the first half.
The Mastodons (3-1) battled back as they outscored the Lions, 25-13, over the final 11:49 of the first half and took a 34-28 lead into halftime. PFW managed the first half comeback despite SLU holding them to 14-for-35 shooting and 4-for-16 from the three-point line in the first half.
In the second half, the Lions began to chip their way back into the game cutting the Mastodons' lead to one, 38-37. However, PFW would slowly pull away from the Lions thanks to 11 second half points from leading scorer Jarred Godfrey. Godfrey finished the game with 19 points to lead Purdue Fort Wayne.
SLU, once again, was terrific at the free throw line converting 12 out of 14 from the charity stripe. However, the Mastodons yielded just two second chance points to the Lions for the entire game to hold off the SLU comeback.
Southeastern finished the game 25-for-57 (44 percent) from the field while PFW was 28-for-62 (45 percent). The Mastodons also drilled nine three-pointers (9-for-26) while the Lions were 4-for-19.
The Lions got 13 points from
Keon Clergeot on 6-for-9 shooting. However, Clergeot, who led the Southland in free throws made and attempted last season, got to the free throw line just once Friday night.
Jalyn Hinton added 10 points to aid the Lions.
PFW got 16 points each from Bobby Planutis and Ra Kpedi to help the Mastodons escape the Lions.
Next up, the Lions will take on host team Florida Gulf Coast Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT.
Fans can watch Saturday's game on ESPN+ with links to video, audio and stats available on the Southeastern men's basketball schedule page at
www.LionSports.net.
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 @LionUpMBB and @DavidKieferSLU on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit
www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2020-21 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
