HAMMOND, LA. – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team gained a 74-62 victory over UIW Monday evening in the University Center.
SLU (8-17, 5-11 SLC) secured a win over UIW (10-15, 5-11 SLC) to compound its two-game winning streak at home. Southeastern remained in control the majority of the contest as its first half momentum made a statement against the Cardinals, noting 34 paint points and 15 second chance points in the contest.
Two Lions closed out the game in double-figures as Makhi Myles tied to lead all scorers with 20 points and three rebounds. Myles tied his career-high with a prolific performance for Southeastern, shooting 7-9 from the field, 3-4 from the three-point line and 3-3 from the free throw line. Jaiden Lawrence provided an additional spark for SLU, dropping 17 points alongside three rebounds versus UIW. Lawrence finished 6-10 from the field, 4-7 from behind the arc and 1-2 from the charity stripe.
Jeremy Elyzee, Isaiah Gaines and Jalen Forrest followed up with seven points apiece to contribute in the win as the Lions relied on its balanced scoring. Gaines led SLU on the boards with nine rebounds while CJ Booker dished out five assists to lead the team as the prime facilitator throughout the game. Southeastern ended the night shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point line and 62.5 percent from the free throw line to claim the victory.
Senior Davion Bailey carried the weight for UIW with 20 points, three steals and two assists. Bailey shot 7-15 from the field, 5-10 from the three-point line and 1-1 from the free throw line to provide a spark for the Cardinals. Jordan Pyke added 13 points, four rebounds and three assists in the contest while Tahj Staveskie chipped in nine points.
The Cardinals struck first, briefly gaining momentum early in the contest, but Southeastern responded quickly as Myles proved to have the hot hand with a 10-point scoring run to take the lead, 10-9. UIW continued to battle, but SLU's defensive pressure intensified with multiple deflections to force the visitors into four turnovers in the first half. The Lions seized control midway through the half as Lawrence produced an electrifying performance from behind the arc, connecting on 3-5 to extend the green and gold's lead, 31-20.
Myles and Lawrence closed out the first half in double-digits, but SLU also relied on its balanced scoring as Gaines and freshman Garrett Shoemaker (four points) caused problems for the visitors to force steals and deflections. Southeastern held UIW scoreless for four minutes before the Cardinals caught a break off a bucket by Staveskie, 40-24. The Lions continued to build a double-digit lead behind its perimeter shooting and strong interior play. The hosts closed out the first half in the driver seat, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from the three-point line to head into the halftime break with a 40-26 lead.
UIW opened the second half with renewed energy, cutting into the deficit with improved perimeter shooting and aggressive drives to the basket as Bailey continued to fuel the visitors. The Cardinals worked to stay within reach, but Southeastern answered each run as Myles and Lawrence carried over their first half momentum. SLU maintained its up-tempo style of play while claiming 22 points in the paint as Elyzee and Forrest chipped in 14 points combined in the second half to extend the lead for the green and gold, 52-35.
Southeastern's stifling defensive pressure remained to force the Cardinals into seven turnovers in the second half alone. Marcus Glover chipped in six points in the half in an effort to help UIW claw into the game, but the Lions' prolific perimeter shooting halted each run by the visitors to further pull away, 61-42. SLU remained poised late in the second half and worked to use the clock to its advantage down the stretch by valuing possessions and converting on easy points at the charity stripe.
The Lions continued to thrive in the paint to preserve their advantage late in the game as the Cardinals had no answer for the hosts perimeter efficiency and defensive pressure. Southeastern closed out the second half, finishing 53.8 percent from the field to extend its win streak in the University Center.
SLU will return on the road traveling to Natchitoches, LA to open week 15 of conference play against Northwestern State Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m. before facing East Texas A&M Monday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
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.
