Junior guard Zay Jackson drives to the rim against Loyola earlier on in the season. Jackson led the team in points against OKST with 16 points. The Hammond native also chipped in four assists and a steal. Sports information/ Randy Bergeron

The Lions played Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Jay Ladner era opener. Even though the Lions played a competitive first half, the Cowboys were able to pull away a win with a final score of 83-55. The 2014-2015 season opener was played Friday night at the Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The Cowboys were able to play off of 21, giving an them advantage, outscoring the Lions 21-9 miscues.

The Lions were down by nine points in the first half until a three-pointer was made by Zay Jackson and a layup by Bret Barclay. Both which helped the Lions to bring the difference to only two points. 

After halftime, the score was 35-33; however, the Lions were not able to keep up with the OSU Cowboys. After a dunk by Cowboy Le’Bryan Nash with 15 minutes remaining in the game, OSU gained a double-digit lead of 48-38.

Outstanding players were Zay Jackson and DeVonte Upson. Jackson, a Hammond native, led the Lions with 16 points that he shot six of 24 from the floor. Upson, with a double-double, added 10 points and left the team with 10 rebounds.

A key player for the Cowboys was Anthony Allen recovering twelve rebounds.

The Lions shot 31.7 percent from the floor with six of 28 from the three-point range. On the other hand, the Cowboys shot 44.4 percent from the floor.

Nash led OSU with a game high record of 22 points. Phil Forte and Leyton Hammonds also scored within double digits. 

The season’s opening weekend ended down the road to face the Sooners in Norman, Okla. in the Lloyd Noble Center.  The last time the Lions played the Sooners was during the 1985-86 season in Oklahoma for the Sooner Invitational.

Sunday evening, Southeastern was able to push through a sluggish first half, but a 23-point difference at halftime became too much for the Lions, ending the game with a final score 78-53.

“I thought we lacked discipline and patience on offense against a team with national championship aspirations,” said head coach Jay Ladner.

The Lions defense stepped up their game during the second half, converting 41.9 percent shots including 37.5 percent from the three-point range. 

The Sooners shot over 34 percent from the floor.

Even though the Lions are a young squad, they were only out-rebounded by the Sooners 49-47 throughout the game. 

“We were playing out of control early. In the second half we did a better job of showing patience and playing a better defense,” said Ladner. “I felt like we battled well with the 19th ranked team in the nation; that is something positive to build on.”

Junior guard Andrew Guillory was unable to play last season due to an injury. He returned to only his second game as a Lion with 16 points. The Texas native also accumulated five rebounds and two assists against the Sooners.

Southeastern was 32.8 percent from the floor overall, 15 percent beyond the arc and 8-16 from the free throw line.

“It was a tough matchup, but we found out a lot about our team and where we need to go, said Ladner. “Our fans can be proud of how we played down the stretch.”

For more information on the mens’ basketball team, visit lionsports.net.