HOUSTON  — The second-ranked LSUA Generals basketball team kicked into gear after halftime Thursday night in a 73-62 Red River Athletic Conference win at North American.

Kashie Natt and EJ McQuillan, LSUA’s dynamic duo, each scored 19 and Natt contributed nine rebounds and four steals

LSUA (20-1 overall, a league-leading 17-1 in the RRAC) led 31-30 at halftime and used 19 unanswered points over a six-minute span to open a 59-39 lead midway through the second half. McQuillan drained two 3-pointers and a free throw and Natt scored 6 points to fuel the decisive run.

North American (9-15, 5-14) trailed by 22 with five minutes left.

“Negative, we have to be better in the first half,” said LSUA coach Dimario Jackson. “We have to be more focused in the first half. Positive, that’s a great job of handling adjustments from halftime and being able to execute the second half offensively and defensively. We have to get back to practice tomorrow and sharpen some things up.”

LSUA WOMEN 69, NORTH AMERICAN 58: In Thursday’s opener, a 12-2 run in the third quarter put the Generals in control.

LSUA (18-5, 15-4) got 16 points from Amani Gray with 12 coming rom Dannah Martin-Hartwick and 11 apiece by Benedetta Peracchi and Reese Stephens. Justice Young snagged a team-best 10 rebounds and barely missed a double-double, scoring nine points.

North American (10-13, 8-12) led 7-0 and had a 32-31 third-period edge before LSUA took over, scoring seven free throws in the decisive spurt. The Generals hit 80 percent at the line.

Both LSUA teams play Saturday afternoon in Austin against Huston-Tillotson, with the women starting action at 1.