In its first game since moving up to the No. 1 spot in the NAIA Top 25 poll, the LSU Alexandria Generals men’s basketball team cracked the century mark for the fourth time this season in a 100-73 victory over Our Lady of the Lake Thursday night at The Fort.
“That was an example of dominating,” LSUA coach Dimario Jackson said. “That’s what we talked to our guys about doing. Was it perfect? No. Did we do everything right? No. But we competed like we’ve been asking these guys to for 40 minutes. That’s been the last two games which means we are trending in the right direction.”
The win came over a very competitive Red River Athletic Conference foe. OLOL dipped to 18-7 overall and 14-7 in RRAC play against LSUA, which locked up it second straight conference crown Tuesday with a 19-point home win over Xavier.
EJ McQuillan poured in a team-high 23 points. He posted a 5-for-9 mark behind the arc. Kashie Natt accounted for 14 points. Jakemin Abney added 12, while Isaiah Howard and Jordan Decuir tallied 10 points. Brayden Thompson led the Generals (24-1, 21-1 RRAC) in rebounds with 12.
Just over three minutes into the game, back-to-back buckets from Natt, and a jumper from Abney, gave the Generals their first double-digit lead, 14-3.
Leading 23-15, LSUA went on an 18-0 run in a little over three minutes for a 39-14 advantage. The Generals’ lead reached 29 points with 1:39 left in the first half on a trey from Abney.
LSUA had 11 different players record points, and 14 different players notch at least one rebound. They held the Saints to just four second chance points.
The Purple and Gold are back at home for Senior Day on Saturday as they host Texas A&M-San Antonio. Tip is scheduled for 3 o’clock following a 1 p.m. women’s contest.
LSUA WOMEN 64, OLOL 59: A fourth-quarter rally made the difference for the Generals as they notched a 20-win season (20-6, 17-5) and dropped the visitors (8-16, 6-15) behind good bench play.
“We came out on fire in the first quarter,” LSUA coach Billy Perkins said. “We were really gelling on offense and defense. I think we got a little relaxed in the third, we only scored six points, very disappointed in the third quarter. Way to respond to the challenge in the fourth quarter. We tried to platoon some and I’m very proud of our second bunch, we call them the Blue Bunch, in how they competed and kept the intensity.”
Jewel Jones led the Generals (20-6, 17-5 RRAC) with 14 points. She shot 50 percent from long range and is now 35 points away from reaching 1,000 for her career. Benedetta Peracchi recorded 11 points and 8 rebounds.
LSUA opened an 18-point first half lead but the visitors recovered and led 53-47 early in the fourth quarter.
An Amani Gray free throw, layups from Peracchi and Justice Young, followed by two Reese Stephens free throws moved the Generals back on top, 54-53. Peracchi and Martin-Hartwick each recorded a basket, before Gray knocked down a jumper for a three-point edge with a minute to play, 60-57. Four free throws from Dannah Martin-Hartwick and Jones sealed the victory, 64-59.