Pair of 11-0 runs spur Lions past Demons

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University men’s basketball team used two 11-0 runs, one that overcame a Northwestern State 10-point lead in the first half, and the other to help pull away late in the second half for a 71-62 win over the Demons Monday night at the Pride Roofing University Center.

Southeastern (7-12, 2-4 SLC) held an early advantage as Nick Caldwell scored the team’s first four points and then a three-pointer by Alec Woodard gave SLU a 7-3 lead 2:15 into the contest. But Northwestern State (5-14, 3-3 SLC) answered with the next five points to retake the lead, setting the stage for a back-and-forth half. With the Lions trailing 12-9, Roger McFarlane converted an old-fashioned three-point play to tie the score back up and start a 7-0 SLU push as back-to-back buckets by Avery Wilson put Southeastern up 16-12 with 12 minutes left in the half.

After the two teams traded baskets to make the score 18-14 Lions with 11:10 left following a layup by Dylan Canoville, NSU went on its big run to take its largest lead of the contest as the Demons rolled off 20 of the next 26 points to take a 34-24 lead with 2:30 to go before halftime. But that’s where the scoring in the period ended for the Demons as a Nick Caldwell jumper started a half-ending 9-0 run with Canoville hitting a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to make it a one-point deficit at the break, 34-33, but with the momentum solidly with the green and gold.

The Southeastern run continued into the second half as Caldwell opened the scoring in the period to make it an 11-0 Lions run and give SLU the lead back for the first time since 20-18 at 35-34. SLU pushed that lead back up to four points as Caldwell turned a Demon turnover into a transition layup which became a three-point play, converting the and-one free throw to make it 42-38 Lions with 15 minutes left.

Over the next six minutes, the score would teeter back and forth as the two teams traded the lead five times with two lead changes until the Demons held a 50-49 lead with 9:15 left in the contest. That’s where Southeastern started to take control of the game as a Caldwell three started the Lions on their second 11-0 run of the contest as a steal by Caldwell turned into an alley oop dunk from Woodard to McFarlane to give SLU its largest lead of the contest at 60-50 with just less than six minutes to go in the contest. The Demons would only get as close as six points the remainder of the contest as the Lions made 11 free throws down the stretch to ice the contest at the stripe.

Caldwell had a very efficient night, even as he battled through early foul trouble, to finish as the game’s top scorer with 21 points as he hit nine of his 13 shot attempts while also getting two assists, a block, a steal, and a rebound. McFarlane came alive late, especially at the free throw line, to record his fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. He also had three steals, a block, an assist. Woodard hit three of his six shot attempts from above the arc and then added seven free throws to finish with 16 points while also grabbing six rebounds, poking away five steals, and dishing out three assists.

Southeastern ended the game hitting 40.4% of its field goal attempts in the contest while going five-of-18 from three. SLU was also very efficient at the free throw line, sinking 24 of the 29 attempts at the stripe. After shooting 43.3% in the first half, NSU was held to just 32.1% in the second half and finished shooting at a 37.9% clip in the contest. The Demons also hit nine threes and was nine-of-14 at the free throw line.

The Lions now head out on the road for two-straight, looking to turn momentum from Monday’s win into a streak, starting on Saturday evening in Beaumont, Texas at Lamar. Tip-off of Saturday’s game against the Cardinals (10-9, 4-2 SLC) is set for 6 p.m. in the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. Saturday’s contest will be live streamed on ESPN+ and can be heard, thanks to the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, on 90.9 FM The Lion in the Hammond/Ponchatoula area and worldwide at LionSports.net/ListenLive or LionUpRadio.org, or on smart devices through 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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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.