LAKELAND, Fla. -- Southeastern continues a pivotal stretch of Sun Conference play this week with a ranked road matchup followed by a return to The Furnace, as the Fire look to maintain their position near the top of the league standings. SEU travels to West Palm Beach on Wednesday, January 7, for a 7:30 p.m. contest against No. 11 Keiser before returning home on Saturday, January 10, to host New College of Florida at 4 p.m. The two-game slate presents contrasting challenges, beginning with one of the league's toughest road environments and ending with a fast-paced, perimeter-oriented opponent back in Lakeland.
Both contests will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network, with coverage available through the UEN app on smart TVs and mobile devices, as well as online.
The Fire enter the week with a 14–1 overall record and a perfect 4–0 mark in Sun Conference play, riding a 12-game winning streak. Southeastern has shown impressive consistency across all venues this season, posting a 5–0 record at home, a 7–1 mark on the road, and a 2–0 showing at neutral sites.
From a team perspective, Southeastern ranks among the NAIA's most productive and efficient units. The Fire average 88.4 points per game while holding opponents to 72.6, producing a +15.8 scoring margin that ranks among the national leaders. SEU shoots better than 52 percent from the field and pairs strong interior finishing with consistent perimeter shooting, while ranking near the top of the NAIA with 15.8 assists per game.
Defensively, Southeastern limits opponents to just over 44 percent shooting, protects the rim, and controls the glass, averaging more than 39 rebounds per game while maintaining a steady rebounding margin.
Mylo Santos continues to pace the Fire offensively, averaging 17.9 points per game to rank second in the Sun Conference. The junior guard has been a steady scoring presence throughout the season, capable of creating his own shot late in possessions while also thriving in transition. Santos has also made a strong impact defensively, ranking among the league leaders in steals, and his ability to pressure the ball has helped spark SEU's transition offense.
Nathan Mikkelson anchors the interior for Southeastern, averaging 12.6 points and a conference-best 8.7 rebounds per game. He ranks among the Sun Conference leaders in blocks and provides a consistent defensive presence around the rim, while his work on the glass has been central to the Fire's ability to control tempo and limit second-chance opportunities for opponents.
Daivion Traylor has emerged as one of the league's most efficient scorers, averaging 15.1 points per game while shooting nearly 76 percent from the floor. His strength and touch around the basket make him a difficult matchup in the paint, and his efficiency allows Southeastern to maintain scoring balance without forcing shots.
Jayson Nixon adds perimeter shooting and playmaking, shooting better than 43 percent from three-point range while ranking among the team leaders in assists. His ability to stretch defenses creates space for SEU's interior scorers, while his playmaking helps maintain offensive rhythm in half-court sets.
Anthony Kangah rounds out the group of primary contributors, averaging 11.2 points per game while shooting over 56 percent from the field and better than 50 percent from beyond the arc. Kangah's versatility and floor spacing provide flexibility in both transition and half-court lineups, giving Southeastern another reliable scoring option.
Wednesday's matchup at Keiser presents one of the Sun Conference's toughest road tests. The Seahawks enter ranked No. 11 nationally with a 12–1 overall record and a perfect 10–0 mark at home. Keiser averages 85.1 points per game while holding opponents under 70, led by Camerin James, who averages 17.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, and Cameron Baldwin, the conference leader in blocks. The Seahawks' combination of physical interior play, perimeter shooting, and defensive disruption will challenge Southeastern on both ends of the floor.
The series between Southeastern and Keiser has been closely contested in recent seasons. While Keiser holds a 26–12 advantage all-time, the Fire have split the last 10 meetings and won the most recent matchup, a 96–87 road victory on February 28, 2025. Several recent games have been decided late, underscoring the competitiveness and familiarity between the two programs.
Saturday's home game against New College of Florida brings a contrasting style of play. The Mighty Banyans average 88.2 points per game and rank among the conference leaders in three-point production, led by Diego Eslava's league-best 19.9 points per game. Shawn Lefresne adds 15.1 points and a conference-leading 6.8 assists per contest, forming one of the Sun Conference's most aggressive backcourts. New College's pace and perimeter shooting will test Southeastern's defensive discipline inside The Furnace.
Southeastern holds a 3–2 edge in the all-time series with New College since first meeting in 2023, including a 3–1 record at The Furnace. The most recent meeting was an 82–80 SEU home win on February 25, 2025, and four of the last five matchups have been decided by five points or fewer, highlighting the competitiveness of the series.
Nationally, Southeastern's profile continues to strengthen through both performance and analytics. The Fire currently rank 33rd in the NAIA RPI and 23rd in the Massey Ratings, reinforcing their position among the NAIA's upper tier.
Following this week, Southeastern remains home to host Warner on Wednesday, January 14, at 7:30 p.m., before welcoming Florida College on Saturday, January 17, at 2 p.m., as the Fire look to continue building momentum inside The Furnace and solidify their standing near the top of the Sun Conference.
