LAKELAND, Fla. -- SEU Men's Basketball continues its home stretch this week with a pair of games inside The Furnace, opening with a Sun Conference matchup against Warner on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Lakeland as the Fire look to build momentum during the heart of league play. Southeastern will then remain at home on Saturday afternoon, hosting Florida College in a non-conference contest at 2 p.m.
The Fire enter the week with a 15–2 overall record and a 5–1 mark in Sun Conference play, positioning themselves among the league's top contenders as the season reaches its midpoint. Southeastern has been dominant at home, posting a perfect 6–0 record inside The Furnace, while also proving capable away from Lakeland with seven road victories. SEU is averaging 87.1 points per game while holding opponents to 73.6, creating one of the top scoring margins in the NAIA and reflecting the Fire's ability to control games through pace, efficiency, and depth.
Offensively, Southeastern continues to rank among the nation's most productive teams. The Fire rank seventh nationally in field-goal percentage at 51.4 percent and average nearly 39 rebounds per game, consistently generating high-percentage looks and second-chance opportunities. SEU has reached at least 80 points in 11 of its 17 games this season and scored 90 or more six times, underscoring the balance and explosiveness of its offensive attack.
Defensively, Southeastern continues to show improvement, ranking among the top teams nationally in scoring margin. The Fire rebound the ball at a high level and average more than three blocks per game as a team, allowing them to protect the paint while maintaining offensive efficiency on the other end.
Mylo Santos continues to be one of the most reliable scorers in the Sun Conference and a steady presence for the Fire. Santos has recorded seven games with 20 or more points this season, including three of his last four outings, highlighting his ability to elevate his play during key stretches. Averaging 17.4 points per game, he ranks among the league's top scorers while also contributing defensively, ranking near the top of the conference in steals and providing leadership on both ends of the floor.
Daivion Traylor has been dominant in the paint and one of the most efficient players in the country. Traylor leads the NAIA in field-goal percentage at 76.3 percent, consistently converting around the rim and finishing through contact. He has recorded five double-doubles this season—all within the last seven games—and has scored 20 or more points six times, combining elite efficiency with increased volume to anchor Southeastern's interior presence.
Nathan Mikkelson provides a physical presence inside and remains one of the Fire's most important two-way contributors. He ranks second in the Sun Conference at 8.6 rebounds per game and third in blocks at 1.7 per contest, giving SEU rim protection and rebounding stability. His ability to finish inside and defend without fouling has been a key factor in Southeastern's rebounding margin and defensive consistency.
On the perimeter,
Jayson Nixon has emerged as a reliable shooter and facilitator, shooting better than 43 percent from three-point range while helping initiate the offense.
Anthony Kangah adds another scoring option from the wing, knocking down over 45 percent of his three-point attempts and stretching opposing defenses, allowing the Fire to maintain spacing and ball movement throughout their offensive sets.
Warner visits Lakeland with recent momentum, having won two straight games. The Royals are led by one of the Sun Conference's top scorers in Josh Irwin, who ranks fourth in the league at 17.3 points per game while also contributing on the glass. Bryson Castillo and Jamal Norris add perimeter scoring, giving Warner multiple offensive options as the Royals look to push tempo and generate offense from the backcourt.
The matchup continues a long-standing series between the two programs that dates back to 2001. Over the last 10 meetings, Southeastern and Warner have split evenly, with each team earning five wins. The Fire have won three of the last four matchups, including both meetings during the 2025 season, highlighted by a 108–95 road victory and a 77–71 home win.
Saturday's non-conference matchup brings Florida College to The Furnace, marking another familiar opponent for the Fire. The Falcons are led by Malik Beauford, who averages 17.9 points per game while shooting better than 46 percent from the field. Florida College relies on perimeter shooting, spacing, and ball movement to generate offense and presents another quality test as SEU continues to build consistency.
The series between Southeastern and Florida College dates back to 2001 and has consistently produced competitive contests. The Fire have won six of the last 10 meetings, including a decisive 110–72 road victory earlier this season, with several recent matchups decided by single digits.
Following this week's home slate, Southeastern will return to Sun Conference road action on Wednesday, January 21, traveling to Ave Maria for a 7:30 p.m. matchup against the No. 8-ranked Gyrenes. The Fire will then return to The Furnace on Saturday, January 24, hosting Florida Memorial at 4 p.m. as conference play continues through a pivotal stretch of the schedule.
