Clergeot scores career-high in Lions’ 76-63 win over Islanders

THIBODAUX, La. – Senior Keon Clergeot scored a career-high 26 points for the Southeastern Louisiana men’s basketball in the Lions’ 76-63-win Wednesday night over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the University Center.

Clergeot, a Winter Haven, Florida native, finished 5-for-13 from the field and 14-for-15 from the free throw line. The Lions’ leading scorer also added four assists.

“I just appreciate my teammates for putting me in the position to help us,” said Clergeot. “The team has stayed together all year and that’s a credit to the players and coaching staff.”

Sophomore Nick Caldwell finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and five steals for the Lions (3-9, 1-2 Southland). The Geismar, Louisiana native was 6-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line.

“Nick did a great job rebounding the ball,” said second-year SLU men’s head basketball coach David Kiefer. “He was anticipating the ball on defense and getting in the passing lanes and getting some steals. He was really aggressive. Nick and Keon were terrific but this was a top to bottom team win.”

The Islanders (3-7, 0-1 Southland) had three players score in double figures led by Nolan Bertan with 20 points on five three-pointers. Perry Francois and Myles Smith each had 11 to pace A&M-Corpus Christi.

The two teams fought toe-to-toe for much of the first half. The Islanders led, 24-20, with 4:13 left in the first half when the Lions stormed on a 10-0 run to take a 30-24 lead and led, 33-29 at halftime.

The Lions, quickly, extended their lead to double digits early in the second half, 45-34. While the Islanders hung tough, they never got closer than seven points to SLU the rest of the way as Southeastern picked up the win.

Both the Lions and Islanders finished with 22 field goals and nine three-pointers each. Southeastern, however, was nearly flawless at the free throw shooting 23-for-26 while the Islanders were 10-for-19.

SLU’s Gus Okafor had a game-high 13 rebounds as the Lions outrebounded A&M-Corpus Christi, 37-31.

Southeastern will be back in action Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. when they face Abilene Christian (10-2, 2-0 Southland) in Abilene, Texas at Moody Coliseum.

A&M-Corpus Christi 63 (3-7, 0-1 Southland)
Francois 5-8, 1-2 11, Smith, M. 3-6, 3-3 11, White 2-4, 3-8 7, Smith, P. 2-5, 0-0 5, Fryer 0-3, 0-1 0, Keys 2-8, 2-2 6, Bertain 7-14, 5-11 20, Myers 1-4, 0-0 3, Coates, Jr. 0-1, 0-0 0, Rchardson 0-0, 0-0 0
Totals 22-53, 10-19 63
SLU 76 (3-9, 1-2 Southland)
Ifejeh 1-2, 1-2 3, Okafor 2-10, 0-0 6, Kirby 1-4, 2-2 4, Clergeot 5-13, 14-15 26, Kasperzyk 2-4, 2-2 8, Smith 2-4, 1-3 5, Romanov 3-6, 1-4 7, Strange 0-0, 0-0 0
Totals 22-52, 23-26 76

Halftime – SLU 33, AMCC 29. 3-point goals – SLU 9-30, (Okafor 2-7, Clergeot 2-7, Kasperzyk 2-3, Romanov 1-4, Smith 1-3, Caldwell 1-2) AMCC 9-24 (Bertain 5-11, M Smith 2-5, P. Smith 1-3, Myers 1-1, White 0-1, Fryer 0-1, Keys 0-2). Technical Fouls SLU – None. AMCC – None. Fouled Out – SLU None. AMCC – White. Rebounds – SLU 37, AMCC 31 (SLU – Okafor 13), (AMCC – Keys 8). Assists – SLU 12, AMCC 14 (SLU – Kasperzyk, Clergeot 4), (AMCC – P. Smith 6). Total Fouls – SLU 25, AMCC 18

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