The LSUA Generals mounted a full-throttle attack on visiting LSUS and won the battle for first place Thursday night in Red River Athletic Conference basketball action, but the LSUA women couldn’t quite climb into a first-place tie.

The LSUA men won 103-98. The LSUS women escaped with a 74-73 victory at the Fort on the LSUA campus.

In the men’s game, LSUA held on to the league lead and split its season series with LSUS.

The Generals (12-5, 10-2) opened a 13-point halftime lead and got a 26-point performance from Kashie Natt, who snagged 12 rebounds, and Jaren Curry added a 23/10 double-double. Jordan DeCuir poured in 26 for the Pilots (13-4 overall, 8-3 RRAC) who rallied with 60 second-half points.

The visiting Lady Pilots stayed unbeaten in conference competition, going to 11-0 with a 15-2 overall record. LSUA fell to 13-4 overall and 10-2 in the RRAC, both losses to LSUS.

The decisive point came on a 3-point basket with 1:09 left by Erynn Williams for a 74-71 LSUS lead. The Lady Generals got a pair of free throws from Dannah Martin-Hartwick  with 39 seconds left, and came up with a defensive stop but missed a shot just before the final buzzer.

LSUS rallied in the final 3:17, going on a game-ending 13-5 run.

Jewel Jones scored 20 and Amani Gray added 15 to lead four double-figure scorers for LSUA.

Saturday, LSUA hosts Texas A&M-Texarkana in an afternoon doubleheader.

LSUS plays at Louisiana Christian on Saturday. LCU swept its home doubleheader with A&M-Texarkana Thursday evening, winning the women’s game 64-62 in overtime, and taking the men’s contest 94-87.