ON THE BREAK—Southeastern’s Kevyn Green sprints past Dillard’s Michael Bridges in the first half of the Lions’ 99-59 victory Saturday. Green finished with a career-high 30 points. The Lions travel to Southern for a 7 p.m. tip-off tonight. By Mike Kiral

Southeastern senior forward Kevyn Green is from Portland, Ore., but he has come to know about the intense rivalry between the Lions and Southern University.

“I'm not even from Louisiana but it means a lot to me because I've played in this game two years in a row so I know how important it is,” Green said. “I know a little bit about the rivalry so I'm looking forward to playing this game.”

Southeastern and Southern will meet for the 30th time in the Jaguars' F.G. Clark Activity Center tonight. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Southern leads the series 16-13 but Southeastern has won the last three meetings, including a 58-46 victory in Hammond in 2007-08.

Southeastern (2-3) is 2-0 in the University Center after rolling to a 99-59 win over Dillard Saturday afternoon. But the Lions are yet to win on the road this season, losing at Arkansas (91-87 in overtime), Lipscomb (70-58) and Texas Tech (74-63).

“It's a good rivalry game, always a big rival,” Southeastern head coach Jim Yarbrough said of Southern. “We have to have our head on right for that one but at least we don't have to get on an airplane and travel again. Hopefully we have learned some good lessons in these last few games. Sometimes you play against lesser opponents early and your record is a little better, but I think we have been able to reveal our strengths and weaknesses playing the very tough schedule early. It has allowed us to teach and coach a little better and kind of be more precise in what we think our team needs to do better. Hopefully that's starting to get us ready for a game like Southern.”

Southeastern is averaging 80.4 points per game while allowing 72.6. The Lions shot 61.4 percent from the floor, including 67.9 percent in the first half, in scoring a season-high 99 points against NAIA member Dillard Saturday. Green led the way with a career-high 30 points, the most by a Lion this season.

“Staying aggressive,” Green said of his making 11 of his 16 shots, including 5-of-6 on 3-pointers. “My teammates were looking for me but the main thing was just trying to get the easiest baskets I could get. Trying to get up and down the floor in transition to get easy baskets instead of having to come down and run a play every time.”

Junior guard Chris Cyprian also recorded a career high with 16 points, going 2-for-3 on 3-pointers and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. The Lions made a season-high nine 3-pointers and 20 free throws.

Patrick Sullivan added 13 points and seven rebounds. Robert Tibbs had 11 rebounds as Southeastern out-rebounded Dillard, 44-24. Brandon Fortenberry had nine of the Lions' season-high 25 assists.

Green is averaging a team-high 21 points. Warrell Span has averaged 11.8 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds a contest while Cyprian is averaging 10.0 points.

Southern is coming off a 61-57 loss at New Orleans that dropped the Jaguars to 0-4 on the season. Southern has been out-scored by an average of 73.2-57.8 a game and is shooting 35.2 percent from the field.

Senior guard Chris Davis the lone Jaguar averaging double figures, scoring 11.0 points per game. Senior guard Steffon Wiley and junior guard/forward Jazz Williams are both averaging 8.3 points per game.

Wiley has also dished out a team-high 15 assists while Davis has 10. Junior forward Douglas Scott has pulled down a team-best 5.3 boards per contest while junior forward/center Gregory Horne is averaging 4.5.

“We have to play smart defense again and keep them under control,” Yarbrough said of the keys against Southern after the Lions held Dillard to 37.3 percent from the field. “Don't let anybody go off for a career night hopefully. Coming down and recognizing whatever defenses they run and being precise and delivering when we pass it inside.”

Southeastern scored 44 points in the paint Saturday in addition to the nine 3-pointers. The Lions also scored 22 points off 18 Dillard turnovers.

“I thought we showed a really nice inside-out presence,” Yarbrough said. “We score inside and we got it inside a couple of times and collapsed the defense and kicked it back out.

“At this point we have everything in. It's just playing hard, refining stuff. Not turning the ball over and being fundamental with our passes. Going beyond just great energy, but also having great execution. It's one of those games that we have to defend well, finish things on the offensive end and hopefully put together another good performance.”

Southeastern will be back in the University Center Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off against Southern of New Orleans.