SLU wins fifth straight road game, defeats UCA, 75-67

CONWAY, Ark. – The red hot Southeastern Louisiana men’s basketball team won for the seventh time in eight games defeating Central Arkansas, 75-67, Saturday night at the Farris Center wrapping up a 1,900 mile road trip.

The Lions (11-13, 7-4 Southland), after a 0-3 start to the conference, has won five straight road games. SLU is half a game behind third place New Orleans (8-4 Southland).

Southeastern was led by Marlain Veal with 21 points and seven assists. The senior from New Orleans, Louisiana, was 11-for-12 from the free throw line.

Moses Greenwood added 20 points and 11 rebounds recording his eighth double-double of the season. The senior from Sharon, Mississippi, was also 8-for-9 from the free throw line.

Freshman Parker Edwards provided a spark for the Lions off the bench. The Mandeville, Louisiana native scored 16 points including four three-pointers to complement Veal and Greenwood.

Sophomore Maxwell Starwood was the x-factor for Southeastern. With the Lions already without forwards Ty Brewer (sprained hand) and Pape Diop (groin), senior Keith Charleston picked up his third foul with 7:14 left in the first half. Starwood, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana product, came off the bench and scored five points and added seven rebounds in 22 minutes.

“Max is having to play a ton of minutes without Pape and Ty,” said Ladner. “He is getting better every game in all aspects. He’s a young man with a lot of talent and ability but he’s just kind of got to put some things to together but if he does that, he has a great future in front of him.”

Despite the mounting first half foul trouble, the Lions still had a 38-30 lead at halftime. SLU drilled seven three-pointers in the first half to keep the Bears at bay.

UCA battled back early in the second half as they opened on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 40-40 with 14:29 remaining.

SLU didn’t panic. With the Lions leading 45-43, Edwards drilled a three-pointer and was fouled making the free throw making it 49-43 Southeastern.

The Lions extended their lead to 61-50, their biggest lead of the game, as Greenwood scored nine points in a 2:37 stretch.

Southeastern put the game on ice as they hit 13 of 16 free throws in the final 3:40 to clinch their fifth straight road win and seventh in eight games.

“That has been big (during the current streak),” said Ladner. “We have been good down the stretch of these games at the free throw line and keeping our opponents at bay.”

SLU overcame 20 turnovers by outrebounding UCA, 41-24, and holding the Bears to 34 percent shooting (18-for-53). The Lions were also 26-for-32 (81 percent) from the free throw line.

“I thought we got off to a great start,” said Ladner. “But one thing we have to do better is put teams away when we have the chance. We can’t keep having these lulls where we go three or four minutes without scoring.”

Next week, the Lions will enjoy the comfort of the University Center. SLU will host Incarnate Word (6-16, 1-8 Southland) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Southeastern will, then, take on McNeese (7-16, 3-7 Southland) Saturday at 4 p.m.

INSIDE SOUTHEASTERN BASKETBALL WITH JAY LADNER
Each Monday night at 7 p.m., beginning Jan. 7th, ‘Inside Southeastern Basketball with Jay Ladner’ broadcasts live on 90.9 KSLU from Rainbow Daiquiris at 14384 West Thomas Street. Talk college hoops with Coach Ladner and host Allen Waddell, cover the finer points of each game and preview upcoming games. If you can’t join the crowd, you can submit a question at www.LionSports.net for the “Ask the Coach” segment. Inside Southeastern Basketball with Jay Ladner airs each Monday night during the Lions’ Southland Conference schedule on the Southeastern Sports Radio Network.

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 @SLU_Hoops and @CoachLadner on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.

BOX SCORE
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 75, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 67
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (11-13, 7-4 SLC)

Veal, Marlain 4-14 11-12 21; Greenwood, Moses 6-8 8-9 20; Edwards, Parker 4-6 4-5 16; Julien, Von 2-6 1-2 7; Starwood, Maxwell 2-3 1-2 5; Gonzalez, Brandon 1-4 0-0 3; Saunders, Jeremiah 1-2 0-0 2; Charleston, Keith 0-0 1-2 1; Brown, Kajon 0-2 0-0 0; West, D’Angelo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-45 26-32 75.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS (10-14, 5-6 SLC)
Koval, Hayden 5-12 3-3 14; Jones, DeAndre 3-9 5-6 12; Unruh, Thatch 3-9 4-4 11; Kayouloud, Eddy 3-10 2-4 10; Mondesir, Matthew 1-2 4-6 7; Schmit, Tanner 2-6 0-0 4; Bennett, Khaleem 1-1 2-3 4; Weidenaar, Aaron 0-3 3-3 3; Chatham, Jared 0-1 2-2 2; Grant, Jordan 0-0 0-0 0; Shittu, SK 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-53 25-31 67.

Southeastern Louisiana…….. 38 37 – 75
Central Arkansas…………….. 30 37 – 67

3-point goals–Southeastern Louisiana 9-25 (Edwards, Parker 4-6; Julien, Von 2-4; Veal, Marlain 2-9; Gonzalez, Brandon 1-4; Brown, Kajon 0-1; Saunders, Jeremiah 0-1), Central Arkansas 6-24 (Kayouloud, Eddy 2-5; Jones, DeAndre 1-3; Mondesir, Matthew 1-1; Koval, Hayden 1-5; Unruh, Thatch 1-6; Weidenaar, Aaron 0-2; Schmit, Tanner 0-2). Fouled out–Southeastern Louisiana-Starwood, Maxwell; Charleston, Keith, Central Arkansas-Kayouloud, Eddy; Unruh, Thatch. Rebounds–Southeastern Louisiana 41 (Greenwood, Moses 11), Central Arkansas 24 (Koval, Hayden 4; Jones, DeAndre 4). Assists–Southeastern Louisiana 13 (Veal, Marlain 7), Central Arkansas 9 (Jones, DeAndre 3). Total fouls–Southeastern Louisiana 22, Central Arkansas 26. Technical
fouls–Southeastern Louisiana-None, Central Arkansas-None. A-1825