HCU at SLU
Houston Christian University heads to Hammond, Louisiana for it's lone game of the weekend, taking on Southeastern Louisiana University at the Pride Roofing University Center on Saturday afternoon. The game is the back-end of a double-header with the women, scheduled for a 3:30 pm tip-off.
The Huskies come in looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Lions, who defeated HCU 80-58 in Sharp Gym on January 29. SLU jumped out to an early double-digit lead, which the Huskies cut to five just seconds prior to the end of the half, but a three-pointer from Roscoe Eastmond at the horn pushed the Lions back out in front by eight, 37-29 at the intermission.
Southeastern would methodically pull away in the second half, benefitting from a very efficient night from long range. SLU went 7-16 from the arc for 43.8% on the evening, becoming the first team of the season to shoot over 40% from three against the Huskies.
Bonke Maring had 14 points, while
Dominic Capriotti and
Marcus Greene chipped in 12 and 11 each in the loss. Nick Caldwell led a quartet of Lions in double-figures with 26 points and Eastmond, the league leader in assists, dished out 12 dimes.
HCU comes into Saturday's action at 6-17 overall and 4-8 in the league. The Huskies are currently in seventh place in the SLC, one game behind Northwestern State and a half game ahead of Incarnate Word. The top eight teams qualify for the Southland Conference Tournament.
Jay Alvarez continues to pace the Huskies offense at 15.5 ppg, while also grabbing 4.4 rebounds and handing out 1.9 assists per game. Greene averages 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists while
Michael Imariagbe closes out the trio of double-digit Huskies at 11.7 points and also leads the club in rebounding at 8.6 per game. He has registered 10 double-double outings on the season, the first player to hit that plateau since Reveal Chukwujekwu in 2016-17.
Bonke Maring averages 9.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. He and Imariagbe are both on pace to collect over 200 rebounds, and would be the first tandem since 2016-17 when Chukwujekwu was joined by Joshua Ibarra with 200+ caroms on the year.
The Lions are led by reigning SLC Player of the Week Caldwell and Roger McFarlane. Caldwell averages 14.9 points per while McFarlane is averaging just shy of a double-double in conference action at 14.7 points and 9.9 rebounds. Roscoe Eastmond is handing out 7.4 helpers per game, and two games after the dozen against HCU, posted a career-best 13 in a win over UIW.
SLU comes into Saturday's game as the hottest team in the Southland. After starting the conference schedule at 1-4, the Lions have won five straight and six of their last seven games to move into fifth place in the league, just a half game behind TAMUCC and Lamar in third.
Saturday will be the 20
th all-time meeting between the two schools. SLU leads the series 12-7 after the win in January, and has won five of the last six with the Huskies.
HCU will have its bye on Monday night to complete the weekend. Five games then remain on the conference docket, and the Huskies will open a three-game homestand next Saturday when they host Northwestern State.
#DawgsUp
#LoveYourBrother
