By: Mark McCollum
LAKELAND, Fla.—After defeating Thomas University 89-69 in their Sun Conference opener, the Southeastern University men's basketball team is set for three more conference games scheduled this week.
The Fire tip-off at 7:30 pm on Monday, November 16
th against Coastal Georgia in a makeup game from Thursday that was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Eta. Then Southeastern travels to Keiser on Thursday for a game scheduled for 7:30 pm on Thursday, November 19
th before returning to the Furnace on Saturday, November 21
st at 7:00 pm to face St. Thomas.
Sophomore
Riley Minix and senior
Isaiah Moody led the Fire to victory over Thomas as Minix recorded his second double-double of the season with 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Moody totaled a season-high 20 points and eight rebounds.
The Fire defense was on display as they held the Nighthawks to shoot just 33.8% from the field, compared to Southeastern's 59.3% mark.
SEU has held teams to shoot 34.7% from the field on the year, good for fifth in the NAIA. This has helped the Fire become one of the top rebounding teams in the nation as they are ranked sixth in defensive rebounds per game with 36.
Individually, Minix currently leads the Sun Conference in both PPG and RPG with 24.5 and 11, respectively. Transfer guard
Riley Matticks leads the conference in APG with 4.
Coastal Georgia enters play this week with a 3-1 overall record and is coming off a 84-70 win over Warner in their Sun Conference opener. The Mariners are ranked ninth in the NAIA in 3-PT field goals made per game with 12. Guard Jordan Parks leads Coastal Georgia in scoring and rebounding, averaging 23.5 PPG and 10.7 RPG while shooting 50% from the field. Southeastern won both meetings last year and leads the all-time series 4-3. Last time out against the Mariners, Minix led the Fire with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting 4-of-7 from 3-PT range.
The Fire travel to West Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday to face a Keiser team that is still searching for its first win this season as they are 0-2 after losses to St. Thomas and Ave Maria. Junior Corevon Lott leads Keiser in scoring with 13 points per game while Shaquille Harris is the leader in rebounds with ten per game. Harris ranks 11
th in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game with six. Southeastern is 5-6 all-time against the Seahawks but won both matchups last year by a combined ten points. Last time the Fire traveled to Keiser, Minix recorded a 28-point, 14-rebound double-double to help give SEU the 69-68 win.
St. Thomas enters play this week with a 1-2 record to start the year and face Warner before traveling to Lakeland on Saturday. Senior guard Antoine Joe is key for the Bobcats as he leads the team in scoring with 15 PPG and two steals per game. As a team, St. Thomas is ranked tenth in steals per game with 11.7. The all-time series between the two teams is even at 4-4 with SEU taking the last matchup in the Sun Conference Finals last season 78-73 in overtime. Minix led the Fire in that one as well with 31 points, shooting 9-17 from the field and 11-15 from the FT line.
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