Graduate student  forward Onochie Ochie (left) slam-dunks the ball after surging past the ACU defense. The Georgia native recorded two blocks and four points to the team’s total. The Lion’s Roar / Elizabeth Brown

After playing a close game against Abilene Christian University, the Lions came out on top within the last few minutes of the game finishing with a one-point lead, 55-54. 

Southeastern (9-17, 6-7 Southland) played against Abilene Christian (9-17, 3-10 Southland) Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the University Center, with junior guard Zay Jackson’s total of 24 points to help take the lead. He also made seven turnovers and six rebounds. Following Jackson was graduate guard Cedric Jenkins who scored eight total points and made one turnover, four steals, three assists and two rebounds. 

Throughout the entire game the score was close, with leads of less than 10 points for both teams. In the first half, the only time the Lions were leading was at 16:25 with a lay-up by Jenkins making the score 4-3 and at 13:43 with a lay-up by senior forward Onochie Ochie making the score 6-5. 

Leading into the second half with the Lions down at 28-33, they made their starting comeback with Jackson’s jumper at 16:13, changing the score to 34-33. The Lions continued to lead throughout the second half until the score became tied up three times at 8:08 and 7:12 and finally at 2:47. At this point, Jenkins put the team back on top with a two-point leader into the last two minutes of the game. 

In that last minute of the game, Abilene was able to score again with two free throws, but it was not enough to overcome the Lions, who finished with a close victory of 55-54. 

According to head coach Jay Ladner, Abilene put up a fight and gave this game their all, but despite their efforts, the Lions were still able to make it to victory. 

“I thought the reason that we won the basketball game was on the defensive end. We were able to get enough stops, some key stops there in the second half [and] Cedric Jenkins made a huge play that got us ahead,” said Ladner.

Ladner looks forward to the team having an improved offensive execution in the games to come.

“I’ve never been around a group of players as physically tough as our players here [and] I’m really proud of the fact that we are edging closer, having won our four out of the last five,” said Ladner.

Up next for the Lions will be an away game in Conway, Arkansas to play against Central Arkansas on Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. The team will continue in the Southland Conference in Natchitoches, Louisiana against Northwestern State University on March 2.