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HAMMOND, La. – The HBU men's basketball team got out to a five-point halftime lead after shooting 50 percent but a big second half by Southeastern Louisiana put the Huskies in a hole they couldn't get out of in the second half as HBU fell by a score of 83-71 on Saturday evening at the University Center.
HBU gained its first lead of the game one a
Jalen Weber runner off the glass 5:43 in to the game put the Huskies ahead 8-7. James Currington responded with a hook in the paint but a
Colter Lasher three put the Huskies right back on top, 11-9. After an 11-11 tie,
Alex Fountain connected on the next three HBU buckets, including two three-pointers, for a 19-14 lead with 11:06 remaining in the first period.
HBU built up to a 30-20 lead after a pair of
Josh Ibarra free throws but the Lions responded and an Eddy Polanco three with 4:52 on the clock made it 30-28. HBU broke the SLU eight-point run thanks to back-to-back threes by
Jalon Gates for a 36-28 lead at the 3:22 mark. Southeastern again fought back to within three but
Braxton Bonds dropped in a fast break layup thanks to a quick outlet pass from
Asa Cantwell, giving HBU a 38-33 lead the Huskies would take into the half.
Southeastern came out in the second half quickly tied things up at 40-40 after a Marlain Veal layup but
Braxton Bonds came down the floor and made a layup in traffic along with the ensuing free throw to put HBU up three. The Lions gained their first lead of the game since early in the first half when Jabbar Singleton knocked down a three at the 15:34 mark for a 46-45 advantage. SLU's lead grew to 52-45 after four consecutive points by Moses Greenwood.
From the 16:32 mark until 7:59 left in the game, SLU out-scored the Huskies 18-5 to hold a 61-50 lead at the second to last media stoppage. HBU got as close as seven after a Bonds layup with 6:47 to play but the Lions again extended their lead and went ahead by 13 with 5:17 to go. HBU fought back to within seven, 71-64, thanks to a pair of Chukwujekwu free throws at the 2:26 mark but SLU again had an answer in the form of a James Currington jumper. A Cantwell three from deep behind the arc made it 73-67 with 1:43 on the clock but another Singleton three made it a nine-point game once again and HBU wouldn't get closer the rest of the way.
Bonds led the Huskies in scoring, matching his career-best with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Lasher finished the evening 5-of-8 from the floor for 12 points to go along with five rebounds. Ibarra and Chukwujekwu both finished with identical lines of 10 points and six boards. Their six rebounds were team-highs. Fountain added 10 points off the bench for the Huskies.
Southeastern had all five starters reach double-digits in scoring, led by Greenwood with 17 points and seven rebounds. Davon Hayes added 16 while Singleton finished with 14.
The Huskies shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) for the game after connecting at a 50 percent (14-of-28) clip in the first half. The Lions were 28-of-56 (50 percent) on the evening. Southeastern held a 35-30 advantage on the glass.
HBU returns home for its next game, Thursday, when the Huskies host Nicholls in Sharp Gym at 7:00 p.m. The HBU coaching staff will be taking part in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers event benefitting the American Cancer Association.
