NEW ORLEANS – The No. 6 Louisiana State University of Alexandria men's basketball team fell to Xavier University of Louisiana, 89-72, for their first Red River Athletic Conference loss of the season.

"Xavier was the better team tonight," LSUA Head Coach Dimario Jackson said. "They were more disciplined, they were tougher. We didn't execute the gameplan, we didn't play our brand of basketball. Simple!"
 
Kashie Natt led the Generals (6-1, 3-1 RRAC) with 16 points. He was one of four players to reach double digits in scoring. Natt also recorded 12 rebounds for a double-double, his fourth of the season. EJ McQuillan (14), Jason Perry II (11), and Brayden Thompson (10) also scored 10 or more points. LSUA recorded 23 second chance points, 16 points off turnovers, and the bench chipped in 39 points.
 
Natt opened the scoring with the first basket of the game for a 3-0 lead. After a three from XULA, McQuillan knocked down a trey of his own. The Generals held a slim advantage for the first eight minutes of the game, before a three from the Gold Rush tied the score at 14-14, opening a 7-0 run for XULA.
 
The Gold Rush expanded their lead to 10 with 6:10 left in the first half, 28-18. Three minutes later, the Generals went on an 8-1 run to cut the deficit to 34-29. LSUA went into the locker room trailing 40-31 at halftime.
 
Natt hit the first two baskets of the second half, bringing the Generals within four, 40-36.
 
Back-to-back baskets from McQuillan and Pery II later in the half brought LSUA within two, 45-43. The Generals kept within striking distance until the Gold Rush forced their lead back to double digits, 72-61 with 4:51 left in the second half and did not look back.
 
The Generals are back at home for their next Red River Athletic Conference game. They host Louisiana Christian University on Monday, December 2, at 7:30 PM in The Fort.