HCU vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Houston Christian University returns to Sharp Gym for the third time in the last four games, hosting Southeastern Louisiana University in Southland Conference action on Monday night.
HCU had it's two-game winning streak snapped on Saturday evening, falling to the University of the Incarnate Word 79-75 at the McDermott Center in San Antonio. The Huskies came back from a six-point halftime deficit to take a six-point lead with just over three minutes left but couldn't put the Cardinals away, as the hosts used a 13-3 game-ending run to eke out the victory.
Jay Alvarez led the Huskies with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Bonke Maring had 16 points and eight caroms, while
Marcus Greene went 3-6 from deep and added 14 points and five boards.
Dominic Capriotti also hit three triples en route to 11 points, and
Michael Imariagbe posted 11 points and 11 rebounds, his third straight and eighth overall double-double of the campaign.
Alvarez continues to lead the Huskies, scoring 17 points overall, and his 19.4 ppg in conference play ranks second only to Jordan Johnson.
Marcus Greene is averaging 13.9 points and 3.2 assists in SLC play thru seven games.
Bonke Maring is averaging 12.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 54.2% from the floor in Southland action. Right behind him is Imariagbe, who is shooting 57.7% while registering 10.7 points and 8.9 caroms per.
The Huskies are now 3-4 in conference play, with all but one of those games decided by eight points or less. Six of those seven have been decided by just five points or fewer. HCU is averaging just over 75 points per game in SLC play.
Southeastern Louisiana comes into Sharp on the heels of a 74-64 setback at Lamar on Saturday. Roger McFarlane and Brody Rowbury each notched double-doubles for the Lions but a cold-shooting second half allowed the Cardinals to pull away for the win. The Lions are 7-13 overall and one game behind HCU and Northwestern State, tied with New Orleans at 2-5 in the league.
McFarlane, a 6'5 junior wing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is averaging a double-double in Southland play thus far at 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds. Senior 6'7 forward Nick Caldwell averages just over 14 points while graduate 6'2 guard Alex Woodard completes the double-figure trio at 10.9. Rowbury, a 6'11, 290 post from Meridian, Idaho is averaging 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds, while senior point guard Roscoe Eastmond is first in the SLC and 37
th nationally in assists at 5.4 per, a number that jumps up to 6.3 in conference action.
The two teams have met 18 times with the Lions holding an 11-7 lead in the all-time series. SLU has won four of the last five meetings, including a season sweep last year.
HCU will hit the road this weekend for a pair of games in the Boot. The Huskies will travel to Thibodaux for a Saturday afternoon matinee with Nicholls before finishing the swing in the Big Easy next Monday night against New Orleans.
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