POINT-BLANK—SLU’s Warrell Span missed only one of his shots in his 16-point, 13-rebound performance Saturday.

Southeastern's Lions make the turn for home riding high in the saddle.

Not turn-for-home as in, down the final stretch, but turn-for-home as in, six of their next seven games are in the University Center.

And if the Lions can maintain anything close to the performance they put on before a regional TV audience in Thibodaux Saturday, they can make a serious run at a seed for the tell-all Southland Conference tournament.

"It was probably the best offensive night we've had around here in a couple of years," Lions coach Jim Yarbrough said after the Lions had their best shooting game in 44 years in an 80-66 victory over the Colonels.

The Lions (3-2, 11-7) shot a torrid 67.5 percent from the floor and a ridiculously hot 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from downtown to bury the Colonels (1-4, 6-14) at their own game.

“They really shot well tonight, and it's hard to beat anyone when the opposing team shoots the way they did,” said Colonels head coach J.P. Piper. “I thought that we challenged them and made them shoot tough shots, but they made them.”

Make them they did, and across the board, too. Warrell Span (16 points, 13 rebounds) was 7-for-9 and Kevyn Green (19 points) was 6-for-7 to lead the way.

But maybe the most crucial contribution was freshman Daryl Arnold coming off the bench for his first extensive playing time in five games and burying four consecutive triples in the first half that shot what was left of the lights in Stopher Gymnasium completely out.

Arnold's sniper work helped the Lions shoot a lusty 62.5 percent in the first half. Incredibly, they actually improved in the final 20 minutes, hitting 75 percent (12-for-16).

"As a coach, you're waiting for the drought and you're waiting for the little (opponent's) spurt to come when you don't make some shots," Yarbrough said. "Tonight we had steady scoring, knocked in 80 points. If we score 80 points, I think we're hard to beat because typically we're probably going to hold you below your average."

Not that Yarbrough expects that kind of marksmanship every night. But the fact that it came on the road at Nicholls, a notorious Waterloo for Lions basketball teams, bodes well for this week.

The Lions return home to host Central Arkansas for "Jam The Jungle Night" on Thursday, then go back on TV Saturday afternoon against Northwestern State.

Southeastern survived its grueling opening stretch on the plus-side of .500 and stands second in the Southland Conference East behind Lamar (4-1), a half game ahead of the Demons and 1 1/2 games clear of Central Arkansas, which defeated McNeese State 57-43 Saturday.

The first matchup with Lamar is the lone road contest in their upcoming stretch of six home games in the next seven. And while Yarbrough would like his team to stay hot, he knows reality is different. But he also knows Saturday's all-around performance - the Lions held the Colonels' dangerous shooters to 34.9 percent floor shooting - could also be a springboard.

"You don't always own that shot. It's kind of rent-to-own," Yarbrough said. "You have it some nights and other nights you don't.

"But (being) 3-2 and gives us some momentum for a nice homestand of six of the next seven games. We're starting to say, ‘Hey! we have a chance. Let's make the most of it.'"