Kashie Natt’s double-double performance, including 18 rebounds by the 6-3 senior guard, led the LSUA men’s basketball team over visiting North American University, 77-67, Saturday at The Fort.
The Generals (11-1, 8-1 in the Red River Athletic Conference) needed a 45-point second half to score the win.
“It was ugly, but kudos to the guys for answering the challenge at halftime,” LSUA coach Dimario Jackson said. “In the first half, we got beat. They were tougher and more disciplined. That’s not our brand of basketball. Kudos to our guys for the challenge we put on them in the second half to be tougher and come out more disciplined.”
Natt led the Generals with 16 points and 18 rebounds. His 18 rebounds ties the second-most rebounds in a single game in LSUA history.
He finished 6-for-13 from the field and 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Natt also recorded four assists, one block, and one steal. Jordan Decuir’s 14 points came on perfect 4-for-4 from the field, including three from deep.
LSUA trailed for the first 11 minutes of the first half. A slim Generals’ lead stayed within a possession until a 12-0 run opened up a 14-point second-half advantage.
NORTH AMERICAN WOMEN 71, LSUA 69: A second half surge from North American (6-6, 3-6 RRAC) keyed the upset, on a putback basket in the final seconds Saturday.
“We fought,” LSUA Head Coach Billy Perkins said. “We were up 10 and we let it slip away. We had some big turnovers at the end. We have to play as a unit, we didn’t do a good job communicating and made some stupid mistakes. We’ve been harping on turnovers and we need to regroup and go back to the fundamentals.”
Dannah Martin-Hartwick topped the Generals (10-3, 7-2 RRAC) with 17 points.
LSUA struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first half, shooting just 19 percent from the floor. LSUA opened the fourth with an 8-0 run for a seven-point lead, 50-43. The Generals pushed their lead to 10 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining, but a pair of turnovers allowed the Stallions to put up a 6-0 run, cutting the lead to 66-62.
The Stallions tied the contest, 69-69, with a layup and 14 seconds on the clock. Another LSUA turnover put the ball back in the Stallions’ possession. After an initial missed shot, North American grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the second effort for a 71-69 victory.
LSUA teams go to San Antonio for RRAC games Thursday at A&M-San Antonio and Saturday at Our Lady of the Lake.
A&M-TEXARKANA MEN 63, LCU 60: The Wildcats’ first on-campus home game in 307 days came down to the last shot but LCU’s Bryce Weinmunson’s game-tying corner three rimmed out.
He led Louisiana Christian (3-8, 2-6 Red River) with 15 points while 10 came from both Chukweumeke Nwoashai (also with 10 rebounds) and Kevin Wiltz. Texas A&M-Texarkana (7-4, 6-3 Red River) was led by 15 points by Deovaunta Williams.
The Wildcats made just 34 percent of their shots in their first game back in H.O. West Fieldhouse since a Xavier player tore down a goal dunking late last season.
A&M-TEXARKANA WOMEN 75, LCU 69: After getting hit by a game-opening 17-0 run, the LCU women rallied to take the lead with a 24-6 outburst, but the visitors won the fourth quarter 23-12 and headed home happy.
Princis Goff rattled off a club-leading 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, went 3-for-4 from deep, and was a board shy of a double-double for Louisiana Christian (2-7, 2-6 Red River). Texarkana got a welcomed road win to rise to 2-11, 2-7 RRAC.
The LCU teams host Paul Quinn in a 5:30/7:30 doubleheader Thursday at H.O. West Fieldhouse.