SE Louisiana edges past Spring Hill 75-65

Dec 31, 2013, 12:39 am

HAMMOND, La. -- JaMichael Hawkins scored a career-high 29 points to lift Southeastern Louisiana to a 75-65 win over Spring Hill on Monday night.

The Lions (5-6), playing without their injured leading scorer Antonnio Benton, rallied midway through the second half to erase an 11-point deficit, taking the lead 62-61 on a dunk by Devonte Upson that sparked a 15-4 run over the final five minutes. Upson contributed 14 points, Onochie Ochie added 13 and Julian Chiera had 11.

Spring Hill, an NAIA school playing the game as an exhibition, shot 54 percent from the field, including 7 of 9 from beyond the arc in the first half to build a 40-36 lead at the break. But the Badgers went cold in the second half, hitting just 7 of 27 from the floor.

Alex Looney led Spring Hill with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Jarrett Calhoun added 11 points.