Game 32:
2022 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Semifinals
(3) UNO Privateers (18-12, 10-4 SLC) at (2) SLU Lions (18-13, 10-4 SLC)
Friday, March 11, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. CT | Katy, Texas | Merrell Center
Series History: UNO Leads 13-9
Last Meeting: SLU 84, UNO 79 (Feb. 24, 2022 – Hammond, La.)
Watch ESPN+ (Dave Saltzman, Ben Braun)
Live Stats
 
KATY, Texas – The second-seeded Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team will face third-seeded UNO in the 2022 Southland Conference Tournament semifinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
 
The Lions (18-13, 10-4 Southland) are making their second appearance in the tournament's semifinals in four seasons. SLU's last trip to the semifinals was March 15, 2019 when former head coach Jay Ladner and Southeastern faced Abilene Christian in a 69-66 loss.
 
SLU, under reigning Southland Coach of the Year David Kiefer, is 4-1 at the Merrell Center in the last two seasons. The Lions won three straight games back in January as they claimed the inaugural Southland Tip-Off Title. Last season, SLU went 1-1 in the conference tournament, beating McNeese and falling to UNO.
 
Southeastern, who has scored 80 points or more in nine straight games, enters the tournament winners of three straight games. The Lions edged UNO, 84-79, back on Feb. 24 at home and then defeated top-seeded Nicholls, 83-81, as they rallied from a 21-point second half hole. SLU clinched the two-seed with a win last Saturday on the road at Northwestern State, 85-80.
The Lions are led by senior Gus Okafor, a first team All-Southland selection, averaging 15.6 points per game. Seniors Keon Clergeot and Jalyn Hinton, both named to the second-team All-Southland Monday, are second and third for the Lions in scoring.
 
The Privateers (18-12, 10-4 SLC) are coming off an 82-78 win over seventh-ranked McNeese in the Southland Tournament Quarterfinals Wednesday night in Katy. Troy Green, a first team All-Southland pick, scored 21 points to fuel UNO's efforts in the win.
 
Southeastern and New Orleans have played twice this season with the Privateers beating the Lions, 78-72, in New Orleans on Jan 20. The Lions, however, returned the favor with an 84-79 victory over the Privateers in Hammond on Feb. 24.
 
In Friday's other semifinal, top-ranked Nicholls (21-10, 11-3 SLC) and fourth-ranked Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (21-11, 7-7 SLC) will face off at 5 p.m. The winner of tomorrow's two semifinal matchups will play Saturday at 8:30 p.m. for the Southland Conference Tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Fans can watch the live broadcast of Friday's game on ESPN+ as Dave Saltzman and Ben Braun will have the play-by-play. Links to live stats will also be available at the Southeastern men's basketball schedule page at 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. 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.