Lions

Southeast Louisiana Lions

General Information

NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Southland Conference
Past Conferences: Gulf Star Conference, Trans America Athletic Conference, Gulf States Conference, Gulf South Conference
City: Hammond, Louisiana
Arena: University Center
NCAA Tournaments: 1 (2005)

Championships

National Championships: 0
Conference Titles: 7 (1954, 1973, 1985, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2018)

Team History

According to the school, Southeastern Louisiana basketball began sometime in the late 1920s, but records weren’t kept, so the university recognizes the 1947-48 season as the team’s first year of the “modern era.” Luther Marlar was the team’s coach, and he was there for 20 seasons until the 1966-67 season. Under Marlar, the Lions went 223-254, sharing the Gulf States Conference title in 1953-54. Southeastern Louisiana appeared in the NAIA Tournament on three occasions, 1950, 1951 and 1954.

The Lions suffered five straight losing seasons after Marlar left, but E.W. Foy led the team to a 21-7 record in 1972-73 and a Gulf South Conference title. The Lions qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament that season. Southeastern Louisiana won a Gulf Star Conference title in 1984-85 and a Trans America Athletic Conference West Division title in 1995-96.

The Lions joined the Southland Conference for the 1997-98 season and the team struggled at the beginning. Southeastern Louisiana went 15-57 in its first four seasons of conference play. Coach Bill Kennedy led the team to a 20-9 record in 2003-04 and a 24-9 mark in 2004-05, when the Lions won the Southland tournament and qualified for its lone trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Lions received an invite to the NIT in 2018 and played in the first year of the Basketball Classic Tournament in 2022.

Southeastern Louisiana Lions All-Time Records

Points Scored

C.A. Core, 2,046
Marlain Veal, 1,666
Hank Washington, 1,585

Rebounds

C.A. Core, 1,475
Freddie Lucas, 820
Jerry Kelly, 792

Assists

Marlain Veal, 595
Leo McClure, 433
Brandon Fortenberry, 421

Southeastern Louisiana Lions FAQs

Southeastern Louisiana chose the Lion for its nickname in 1931. The lion didn’t have a name for years until the university acquired a live lion in the early 1960s. A vote was held in 1963, and the name “Lobo” won, which created a problem: Southeastern now had a lion whose name was Spanish for “wolf.” In 1964, the name “Roomie” was chosen to honor the late Hollis “Roomie” Wilson, a biology teacher and ardent Lions fan.

How Many Southeastern Louisiana Players Have Been Drafted by the NBA?

Charles “C.A.” Core is the only Lions player to be drafted when he was taken in the 14th round of the 1968 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals. He never played in a regular season game.

What Is Southeastern Louisiana’s Largest-Ever Margin of Victory?

On Nov ember 16th, 2007, the Lions hosted Dallas Christian College and raced out to a 60-24 halftime lead. It was uglier in the second half, as Southeastern Louisiana outscored the Crusaders 68-18 in the second half. The 86-point margin of victory shattered the previous record of 63, set against Baptist Christian in 1993-94.