SE Louisiana holds off New Orleans, setting up a showdown

Feb 28, 2018, 10:52 pm

NEW ORLEANS -- Joshua Filmore scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and Southeastern Louisiana held off New Orleans 68-64 Wednesday night to set up a Saturday showdown with Southland Conference leader Nicholls.

The Lions (20-10, 14-3) can claim the regular season title against the Colonels (15-2), which beat Northwestern State 73-70 on Wednesday. Southeastern Louisiana -- winners of seven straight -- beat Nicholls, 67-63, in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on Jan. 27.

Southeastern Louisiana led 38-31 at halftime and extended its lead to 16 points with a 12-3 run out of the break. But Dionta Champion's jump shot started a 21-7 run for New Orleans and reduced their deficit to 57-55 on Troy Green's layup with 7:25 left. Makur Puou tied at 59 with two foul shots but the Privateers never took the lead.

Champion's layup made it 65-64 with 2:41 left and New Orleans proceeded to miss its last three shots, a pair of free throws and turned it over twice. Champion led the Privateers with 16 points.