Caldwell earns second-straight SLC weekly honor and SLU’s third in a row

FRISCO, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana University men’s basketball team received its third-straight Southland Conference Player of the Week honor as Nick Caldwell won the honor for the second week in a row, the conference office announced on Monday.

Caldwell, a senior guard/forward from Prairieville, La., averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 50% of his shots and 44% from three in two Southeastern wins on the week, victories where Caldwell hit a pair of free throws with less than 10 seconds left which forced overtime on Monday night while his three-pointer with less than five seconds left on Saturday proved to be the game-winner.

In Monday’s win at Texas A&M-Commerce, Caldwell scored his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds against the Southland’s other Lions. He also tied a career high with five blocks in that win while his free throws with 8.1 seconds left tied the score, forcing overtime where SLU ultimately triumphed on a bucket by Roger McFarlane with three seconds left.

He followed that up with his second double-double in a row, and second on the season, on Saturday in the home win over Houston Christian. He scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while hitting 70% of his shots against the Huskies, which included him scoring on both of his three-point attempts, none bigger than the three he drained with 3.9 seconds left to break a 78-78 tie and give SLU the 81-78 victory. He was also a perfect eight-for-eight from the free throw line against HCU.

This is Caldwell’s second-career SLC Player of the Week award, as well as his second in a row after earning the award last Monday. It’s also the third-straight SLC Player of the Week award to be bestowed upon a SLU Lion after Roscoe Eastmond was deemed worthy of the honor the week prior to Caldwell winning it for the first time.

Caldwell, McFarlane, Eastmond, and the rest of the Lions (13-13, 8-5 SLC) look to extend their season-best win streak out to seven in a row on Monday night as Lamar comes to town for a contest which could prove pivotal in the race for at least a single bye in the upcoming Southland Conference Championship Tournament as the two teams are separated in the standings by just a half-game.

Tip-off of Monday’s contest against the Cardinals (14-11, 8-5 SLC) is set for 6 p.m. in the Pride Roofing University Center, and it’s also jersey night, where all fans are encouraged to wear their favorite sports jersey to tonight’s contest. Tonight’s game will be live streamed on ESPN+ with a radio broadcast also available, thanks to the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, on 90.9 FM The Lion in the Hammond/Ponchatoula area, worldwide at LionSports.net/ListenLive and LionUpRadio.org, or on smart devices on the Lions Gameday Experience app, the TuneIn Radio app, or the MyTuner Radio app. Live stats will also be available 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.

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