There was nothing easy about it, but the basketball teams from LSUA left Louisiana Christian’s H.O. West Fieldhouse with a pair of Red River Athletic Conference victories Thursday night.
The fourth-ranked LSUA men claimed their 12th straight game with a 71-63 decision, pulling away from a tight game in the waning minutes to claim a triumph in the Red River Rivalry.
The Generals (18-1, 15-1 RRAC) snapped a six-game winning streak by the Wildcats (9-10, 8-7).
In the women’s contest, LSUA (15-5, 12-4) overcame a seven-point deficit for a tough 87-81 win over LCU (6-11, 6-9).
LCU stays busy with a home doubleheader Saturday against nearby LSUS, tipping off at 1 with the women’s contest.
The LSUA teams get an unexpected open date Saturday because Xavier-New Orleans was unable to commit to heading north and was inactive this week due to the heavy winter storm that blanketed south Louisiana with snow and impassable roads.
The men’s game Thursday night at H.O. West Fieldhouse was the headliner with LSUA’s lofty status in the NAIA Top 25, and LCU’s surge this month. The Wildcats controlled the tempo most of the night but the Generals had enough production to escape the upset bid.
“It was an ugly win,” LSUA coach Dimario Jackson said. “But that’s sometimes how these games go. Things don’t go your way, some things you can’t control. Kudos to our guys for standing up there and being able to finish in an environment that is tough to win in … good job by our guys to handle some adversity and being able to stand it and get the victory.”
Kashie Natt led the Generals with 24 points and 16 rebounds. He shot 50 percent from the field and went 9-for-13 at the free throw line. Seven of his 16 rebounds came off the offensive glass. Natt added five assists, one block, and two steals to his ledger.
Brayden Thompson tallied 10 points and five rebounds for LSUA.
For LCU, Devin Carter poured in a season-high 30 points in large part to 14 made free throws in 15 shots. Jon’Quarious McGhee added 10 points for the Wildcats, who made just 2 of 16 from 3-point territory. Chukwuemeke “JJ” Nwaoshai snatched 10 rebounds.
The Generals briefly led by 10 in the first half but were up just 35-32 at halftime. The margin moved between 3-8 points through the second half until the final minute but the Wildcats never led.
Ahead by four, 62-58 with 4:27 left, LSUA mounted a 9-2 run for an 11-point lead, its biggest of the game.
Amani Gray became the newest member of the LSUA women’s basketball 1,000-point club in the opening game.
Gray put up nine points to reach the 1,000-point career milestone over the first 15 minutes of the contest. The senior finished with 17 points.
“It feels great,” Gray said. “Coming into the game I knew I was right there, but after I hit the shot to secure it [1,000 points] it got a little easier.”
The Generals’ senior finished with 17 points and was 5-for-12 from the field. She connected on six free throws.
Benetta Peracchi led LSUA with 24 points. She was a perfect 10-for-10 from the field. Dannah Martin-Hartwick tallied 16 points for the Generals.
McKayla Price was LCU’s star of the show for the biggest crowd of the season, exploding for a career-high 25 points and a season-best 8 rebounds. Princis Goff scored 15 and had a career-best 5 assists, while DaKayla Howard added 14 points.
LCU went 7 for 11 on 3-poitners while swiping a season-best 14 steals to challenge the visitors.
LSUA led after the first quarter, 24-23, but the Wildcats claimed the second quarter, shooting 9-for-17 from the field and carried a 46-43 lead into halftime. The Generals rallied to take a 67-59 lead into the final stanza.
The Wildcats slashed it down to just a two-point deficit, 75-73, with 3:57 left in regulation.
A 3-pointer by Reese Stephens opened a quick 7-2 run for the Generals and pushed their advantage to 82-75 and LCU could not challenge again.