HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana shot 55 percent from the field and nailed 10-of-20 3-pointers as the Lions handled HBU, 87-67, in Southland Conference basketball Saturday night at University Center.
Junior guard
Anthony Odunsi matched his career high with 18 points and six rebounds for the Huskies (6-7, 1-2 SLC). Sophomore forward
Reveal Chukwujekwu also tied his career high with 12 points, while freshman center
Josh Ibarra had 10 points, led HBU with eight boards and three blocked shots. Sophomore forward
Colter Lasher, the Huskies' leading scorer, was held to two points, but tied for the team lead by grabbing eight rebounds.
SELA (4-11, 1-1) had four players score in doubled figures with Onochie Ochie and Joshua Filmore, who made 5-of-8 from behind the arc, each scoring 17 points and grabbing four rebounds. Zay Jackson hit three 3-pointers and had 15 points, while DeVonte UIpson had 14 points and led the Lions with eight boards and three blocks. Fimore and Jackson each had seven assists.
HBU shot 43 percent for the game, but only made 3-of-15 from 3-point range. The Huskies outrebounded the Lions, 39-29, the 10
th time this season HBU has outrebounded its opponent. The Lions made 10 fewer turnovers and had 13 more assists.
In the first half, SELA scored seven-straight points on a dunk by Ochie, a three by Jackson and a layup by Upson to take a 17-6 lead with 14:16 left. Jenkins hit a three from the corner to extend the Lions' lead to 30-16 at the midway point, but a short jumper by Ibarra and a trey by junior forward
Jourdan Stickler got the Huskies back within single digits. After Upson spun in the paint for a bucket, Odunsi answered with a three-point play on the other end to cut HBU's deficit to eight.
The Lions scored eight-straight to go up, 40-24, with 3:29 to go, then the Huskies scored five of the next six. Filmore nailed a long three just before the buzzer to send SELA to the break with a 45-29 lead.
SELA shot 58 percent in the first half, including 5-for-9 from 3-point range, while HBU shot 38 percent and only 1-for-8 from long distance. Ibarra had six points at halftime for the Huskies, while Upson and Ochie had nine apiece for the Lions.
After senior guard
Marcel Smith scored the opening basket of the second half for the Huskies on a floater in the lane, the Lions scored the next six to take a 20-point lead. Threes by senior guard
Tyler Russell and freshman forward
Terry Harris helped the Huskies get to within 57-45 with 10:58 left, but a pair of free throws and a three-point play by Guillory put the Lions back up by 17.
Daniel Grieves hit a three that put SELA ahead, 77-58, with 5:06 remaining, but Odunsi came back with a three-point play for HBU. Upson powered through for a three-point play of his own, then Guillory finished a fast break with a layup to give the Lions their largest lead at 21 with 4:09 to go.
The Huskies wrap up their three-game Louisiana road swing against Nicholls Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Thibodaux.
