HAMMOND, LA— Winthrop turned a 19-point deficit into a two-point game in the second half, but couldn't get over the hump as it fell 81-71 to Southeastern Louisiana, Friday night at the University Center.

The loss is the second straight for the Eagles as they fall to 4-6 on the year and will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. when they host Reinhardt University. Admission to the game on Sunday is free to all fans. Southeastern Louisiana improved to 3-8 on the year and 2-0 at home.

"The first half was the difference as we dug ourselves a really, really, really big hole," said Winthrop head coach Pat Kelsey. "It wasn't until the 16 minute mark of the second half that I really felt we fought a Winthrop basketball player and a Winthrop basketball team is supposed to fight. Credit Southeastern Louisiana. They were the aggressor for the first 24 minutes of the game."

Winthrop turned a 19-point deficit with 15:11 remaining in the game into a one possession game with 6:35 left after Keon Johnson drained a three. Winthrop scored six straight points behind three from Joshua Davenport. It was a 15-point game at 60-45 when the Eagles defense stepped it up and held the Lions scoreless for the next three minutes and 53 seconds to make it a 60-55 game after Keon Moore hit a jumper. The 8-0 run by the Eagles started with a Duby Okeke three-point play and the lead was cut to single-digits after a steal and dunk by Moore.

The run ended with a Cedric Jenkins three-pointer, but the Eagles responded right back with a three of their own by Jarad Scott, who knocked down a triple off an inbounds play with three seconds left on the shot clock. Jenkins three was the only one in the second half by SLU but it came at the perfect time.

After the Eagles pulled within two points, the Lions reeled off 10 straight points for a double-figure lead again with a little over four minutes to play.

Moore led Winthrop with 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting and led the team with five assists while Andre Smith added 10 points and four assists. Winthrop shot 46 percent in the game and was 7-for-21 behind the arc (33 percent). The Eagles scored 16 points off 11 forced turnovers and received 28 points from the bench led by Joseph Lopez with eight points.

The Eagles led 30-29 with 4:46 to play in the first half after Xavier Cooks knocked down a jumper, but the Lions ended the half on a 15-2 run to lead 44-32 at the break. It began with DeVonte Upson converting a three-point play and then knocking down a jumper as those five points were followed by two Joshua Filmore three-pointers.

The Lions scored on 17 possessions in the first half with 11 of them resulting in three points as they were 8-for-14 behind the arc and converted three old fashion three-point plays. Daniel Grieves was 3-for-4 behind the arc off the bench and Joshua Filmore was 4-for-7 from three to lead the three-point barrage in the first 20 minutes. The Lions shot 53 percent from the floor while Winthrop shot 40 percent.

Winthrop fell behind 17-11 after Grieves connected on back-to-back threes for the Lions and trailed 20-13 with 13 minutes left in the half. The Eagles used an 11-3 run to take a 24-23 10:58 lead as Smith connected on a triple for the team's first lead of the game. Moore practically made the run offensively himself as he scored the first eight points in the run. Moore hit back-to-back threes to ignite the rally.

The Lions had five players in double-figures led by Upson and Filmore with 15 points while Grieves and Onochie Ochie added 14 points. Zay Jackson added 13 points and seven assists. The Lions shot 61 percent in the second half and finished at 57 percent for the game as they were 9-for-19 from three