ALEXANDRIA, La. – A 13-7 run over the final four minutes propelled the No. 5 Louisiana State University of Alexandria men's basketball team to a 77-72 win over Texas A&M-Texarkana.
 
"We are better than that," LSUA Dimario Jackson said. "We are tougher than that, more disciplined than that. I'll take the win, you're always happy to win, but that's not our brand. Missed free throws, missed layups, we didn't execute like we needed to. We got timely stops. I'll give our guys credit for being able to finish."
 
Trailing 65-64 to the Eagles (10-5, 9-4 RRAC), a three-point play from Kashie Natt ignited the Generals' (15-1, 12-1 RRAC) offense to open the run and put LSUA ahead 67-65. Isaiah Howard and TJ James then knocked down four free throws. The Eagles responded in kind, converting a pair at the line as well. A layup from Howard, followed by two shots at the charity stripe from Natt, made it 75-67 LSUA.
 
Texarkana made a layup with 13 seconds left and were forced to foul Jordan Decuir, who knocked down both of his free throws for a 77-69 lead.
 
The Eagles made a three at the buzzer for the game's final points, as the Generals held for a 77-72 victory.
 
Natt finished with 26 points. He went 9-for-14 from the field, including a 4-for-8 mark from beyond the arc. He was a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. Jakemin Abney recorded 16 points and finished 7-for-13 from the field. EJ McQuillan tallied 10 points. LSUA recorded 26 points in the paint and 18 points off turnovers. The bench chipped in 31 points.
 
Neither team found sustained momentum in the first half. Through the opening 11 minutes, the score sat tied at 19-19.
 
A 13-4 run gave the Generals a 32-19 advantage with 5:12 left in the opening period. The Eagles chipped away, pulling within two, 36-34, with 1:28 left in the first. A layup from Kaleb Pouncy with 32 seconds left in the half gave the Generals a 38-34 edge heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
LSUA's lead hovered around five for the majority of the second half. A three-point play from the Eagles with 7:21 left in regulation cut the Generals' lead to two, 60-58. A pair of free throws on the Eagles' next possession brought the game even, 60-60.
 
Abney knocked down a jumper for a brief, two-point lead, but the Eagles responded with a three to pull ahead 63-62.
 
A layup from McQuillan with 4:42 left in regulation was answered by a layup from Texarkana, bringing the score to 65-64 in favor of the Eagles and setting up the Generals 13-7 run to close the game.
 
LSUA is back in action on Saturday, January 11, in Hawkins, Texas. They take on Jarvis Christian at 3:00 PM.