LAKELAND, Fla. -- Southeastern closes the regular season Saturday, February 21 at 4 p.m. inside The Furnace, hosting No. 4 Ave Maria on Senior Day. The pregame ceremony will honor the program's seniors as the Fire look to finish the regular season on a strong note against one of the top teams in the country.
The game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network app, available on Smart TV and mobile devices, as well as online at UrbanEdgeNetwork.net. Live statistics will be available at SEUFire.com for fans following along remotely.
SEU enters the week at 22-5 overall and 11-4 in Sun Conference play, riding a two-game win streak. The Fire have been consistent across venues, going 9-2 at home, 11-3 on the road, and 2-0 at neutral sites. Their .815 overall winning percentage reflects a group that has combined offensive efficiency with steady conference production.
Offensively, Southeastern is one of the more efficient teams in the NAIA. The Fire average 86.0 points per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three-point range. Nationally, SEU ranks 18th in scoring, 13th in field goal percentage, and 42nd in rebounds per game (38.3), underscoring a balanced attack that scores efficiently and controls the glass. The Fire also average 15.1 assists per contest, reflecting a team that moves the ball effectively.
Defensively, Southeastern allows 75.3 points per game while holding opponents to 45.0 percent shooting and 32.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Fire own a +7.6 rebound margin, ranking 11th nationally in that category, and average 3.6 blocks per game. Their ability to contest shots and finish possessions has limited second-chance opportunities and helped maintain control of tempo.
Analytically, the Fire remain in solid postseason positioning. Southeastern is ranked No. 40 in the Massey Ratings, No. 48 in the NAIA RPI (Feb. 16), and No. 10 in the NAIA ARC East Region rankings (Feb. 17). SEU owns a 3-3 record in Quad 1 games and a 3-2 mark in Quad 2 contests, demonstrating competitiveness against top-tier competition.
Individually,
Mylo Santos continues to anchor the offense. The senior guard averages 17.9 points per game, shooting 51.6 percent from the floor while adding 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest. His scoring average ranks second in the Sun Conference and has provided consistent production throughout conference play.
Daivion Traylor has been one of the most efficient interior players in the league. He averages 15.1 points per game while shooting 74.0 percent from the field and pulling down 6.8 rebounds per contest. His rebounding average ranks among the top five in the conference, and his ability to finish around the rim has given SEU a reliable inside presence.
Jayson Nixon adds perimeter scoring and playmaking. The junior averages 12.3 points per game and has connected on 69 three-pointers, shooting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc. He ranks fifth in the Sun Conference in three-point field goals made per game (2.6) and has also dished out 94 assists this season, providing balance as both a scorer and distributor.
Nathan Mikkelson has been a steady two-way contributor in the frontcourt. He averages 10.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, ranking third in the Sun Conference in rebounding, while also contributing 1.5 blocks per contest. His presence on the defensive glass has been central to Southeastern's rebounding margin.
Anthony Kangah rounds out a balanced starting group, averaging 11.5 points per game and shooting 37.3 percent from three-point range. His perimeter shooting stretches opposing defenses and complements SEU's inside-out offensive approach.
No. 4 Ave Maria enters the weekend at 24-3 overall and 13-2 in Sun Conference play, including a perfect 11-0 mark on the road. The Gyrenes average 92.8 points per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from three-point range, connecting on 11.0 triples per contest. They also average 40.8 rebounds and 16.0 assists per game, reflecting a high-tempo, perimeter-oriented offense that shares the ball effectively. Defensively, Ave Maria allows 79.8 points per game and holds opponents to 44.0 percent shooting, while posting a +5.9 rebounding margin and 4.6 blocks per contest. Michael Klekas (17.2 ppg), Marlon Bennett (15.6 ppg), and Jonathan Effertz (15.2 ppg, 49.1 percent from three) headline a balanced scoring group, while Alex Sherwood anchors the interior with 11.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Saturday marks the latest chapter in a series that dates back to 2009. Southeastern holds a 24-13 advantage overall, including a 13-3 record at home. Ave Maria has won six of the last 10 meetings, though SEU claimed a 96-91 road victory earlier this season on January 21. Recent matchups have frequently featured high scoring and tight margins, including postseason meetings at neutral sites. With both programs positioned near the top of the Sun Conference standings, the rivalry continues to carry significant implications each time they meet.
Southeastern has secured the No. 3 seed for the 2026 Sun Conference Men's Basketball Championship and will host a first-round matchup Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. inside The Furnace. The Fire's opponent will be determined between Webber International and Coastal Georgia.
The winner of Tuesday's game will advance to the tournament's final site, hosted by the regular season champion. The semifinals are scheduled for Friday, February 27, with the championship game set for Saturday, February 28. With a top-three seed secured and postseason play beginning at home, SEU will look to build momentum quickly as the path to a conference title begins in Lakeland.
