The No. 5 LSUA men’s basketball team opened the new year with a 109-75 victory Saturday over LSU Shreveport in Red River Athletic Conference play.

Kashie Natt led the Generals (14-1, 11-1 RRAC) with 16 points. Jakemin Abney and EJ McQuillan both recorded 14 points. Jordan Decuir (13), Keyo Giroir (12), Jason Perry II (11), and Brayden Thompson (10) all were in double digits as the bench scored 68 points.

LSUS (9-7, 6-6 RRAC) tallied the game’s first bucket, but LSUA went on a 13-2 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes, staking out a 13-4 lead. The Pilots battled back, tying the game at 18-18.

Over the next eight minutes, LSUA opened up a 46-35 lead, the first double-digit lead of the game for the Generals. After a 51-41 halftime lead, LSUA ran off 14 unanswered to  blow it open, going up 72-48 with 12:54 left. LSUA reached a 30-point lead with 4:10 on the clock, 96-66, on the first of three free throws from Natt.

The Generals are back in action on Tuesday as they host Texas A&M-Texarkana at 7:30 in The Fort.

LSUS WOMEN 76, LSUA 60: A turnover-plagued second half was the difference as the Lady Pilots pulled away from a halftime tie in Saturday’s first game.

Amani Gray and Jewel Jones led the Generals (11-5, 8-4 RRAC) with 13 points each. All four of Jones’ baskets came from beyond the arc. Dannah Martin-Hartwick recorded 12 points and also led LSUA with eight rebounds and six assists.

LSUA scored 20 points in the paint, 21 points off turnovers, and tallied 11 second chance points.
The Generals struggled in the second half, turning the ball over 14 times in the third and fourth quarters.

The Pilots managed an 11-point swing, ending the third period ahead 57-46.

LSUA plays again Tuesday night at 5:30, hosting Texas A&M-Texarkana.