Men's Basketball Set to Host Elite Contests in The Furnace this Weekend

LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 8 Southeastern University men's basketball team has found a solid rhythm as of late. Since suffering their lone loss of the season to receiving votes Rochester College 83-70 on November 24, the Fire have rattled off five-straight victories. The Fire now turn their attention to a pair of monumental non-conference contests they will host in The Furnace this weekend as a part of the annual SEU Invitational.

GAMES:
No. 8 Southeastern (9-1) vs. No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan (11-3) Friday 4:00 p.m.
No. 8 Southeastern (9-1) vs. No. 19 Saint Francis (Ind.) (8-5) Saturday 4:00 p.m.

COVERAGE:
WATCH/LIVE STATS

FIRE FOCUS:

• In four of their five straight wins, the Fire have held the opposing team to under 70 points.
• The Fire are in the upper echelon of shooting teams in NAIA Division II, ranking 15^th in team field goal percentage (.498) and 22^nd in 3-Pt Field Goal Percentage (.397). Additionally, SEU ranks 10^th in the country in success at the free throw line, with a (.796) team free throw percentage.
• Senior guard Josiah Barsh has been particularly prolific at the charity stripe this season, ranking second in NAIA DII in free throw percentage (.935), 58-62).
• Barsh has been a double-digit scorer for the Fire in each contest this season.
• Sophomore guard Isaiah Moody has provided a spark off the bench as of late, recording three straight 11-point games and shooting 66.7% from the field (12-18) during that stretch.
• Southeastern is 5-0 this season in games decided by single-digits.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

• The contest between Southeastern and Indiana Wesleyan is a rematch over four years in the making, as the last time the two teams met was on 3/14/14 in the NAIA National Championship Fab Four. The Wildcats ended the special postseason run by the Fire 98-77.
• The only time prior to 2014 the two programs have ever met was an 82-71 IWU win in Lakeland on 12/13/2002.
• The Fire and the Cougars of Saint Francis put on an instant classic in The Furnace last season, with the then No. 2 Cougars coming out on top 92-85 in overtime.
• The only time previously the two programs have met was an 88-75 Saint Francis victory in The Furnace on 12/12/15.

THE WILDCATS:

• The defending NAIA DII National Champions have embarked on a difficult path to begin their quest for a repeat title. SEU will be the fifth NAIA-Top 25 and fourth Top 10 squad IWU has faced this season. The Wildcats are 2-2 versus ranked opponents thus far.
• Offensively, Indiana Wesleyan ranks second in NAIA DII in three point percentage (.450), third in team field goal percentage (.541), and fourth in assists per game (19.286).
• Defensively, IWU ranks fifth in blocks per game (4.286) and ninth in defending the three point line (.300).
• Sophomore guard Kyle Mangas has not been held under five field goals made or 13 points scored this season.
• Kansas transfer Evan Maxwell is averaging 20.6 points over his last five outings.

THE COUGARS:

• The team that Indiana Wesleyan bested in the National Championship Game last season has played one of the most grueling schedules in the country thus far.
• Eight of Saint Francis' 13 games have been played against NAIA Top-15 opponents. All five of the Cougars' losses have been versus ranked or receiving votes teams.
• Sophomore guard Hunter Hollowell ranks 24^th in the country in three-point percentage (.493), successfully converting 36 of his 73 attempts.
• Junior guard Austin Compton has totaled four or more assists in four-straight games.
• A different player has led the Cougars in scoring each of their last four contests.

TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
 
Points per Game: 84.33
Opponents Points per Game:
Field Goal %: .498
3PT %: .397
FT%: .796
Rebounds per Game: 35.889
Turnovers per Game: 13.889
Individual PPG Leader: Josiah Barsh (19.67)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Dylan Causwell (7.38)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Ismael Celestin (3)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Dylan Causwell (.63)
 
IWU
 
Points per Game: 90.929
Opponents Points per Game:
Field Goal %: .541
3PT %: .450
FT%: .701
Rebounds per Game: 39.214
Turnovers per Game: 14.357
Individual PPG Leader: Kyle Mangus (21.3)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Evan Maxwell (6.6)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Joel Okafor (5.07)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Seth Maxwell (1.86)
 
 
USF
 
Points per Game: 76.692
Opponents Points per Game:
Field Goal %: .467
3PT %: .390
FT%: .696
Rebounds per Game: 36.462
Turnovers per Game: 13.462
Individual PPG Leader: Connor Lautenheiser (.449)
Individual Rebounds per Game Leader: Austin Compton (5.31)
Individual Assists per Game Leader: Austin Compton (3.23)
Individual Blocks per Game Leader: Jeffrey Reynolds (.67)
 
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