ALEXANDRIA, La. – The No. 2 Louisiana State University of Alexandria men's basketball team won their 14
th straight game with a 79-69 victory over the University of the Southwest (N.M.).
"Negatives first, we had 21 turnovers, that's definitely not like us," LSUA Head Coach Dimario Jackson said. "We left some free throws out there that we should have made. Positives, good teams find a way to win, even in ugly situations. Offensively, we know we'll be fine, we have a lot of guys that can fil it up."
Kashie Natt led the Generals (20-1, 17-1 RRAC) with 23 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals. He shot 5-for-10 from the field and finished 12-for-15 at the free throw line.
Jakemin Abney recorded 15 points, while
EJ McQuillan added 12. LSUA tallied 32 points in the paint, 16 points off turnovers, 12 second chance points, and the bench recorded 37.
Through the first 11 minutes of play, the Generals and Mustangs (12-8, 9-8 RRAC) were tied 19-19. The lead and momentum seesawed back and forth throughout the first half as both teams vied for control. Tied 33-33 with two minutes left in the period, the Generals scored five consecutive points, on a three from
Xavier Smith and a layup from Abney, to take a 38-33 lead into halftime.
A pair of free throw from Natt opened the second half. After a layup from Southwest, McQuillan knocked down a trey for a 45-38 lead.
The Mustangs whittled the eight-point differential down to four with 16:29 left in the second. A three from Natt and a layup from Smith put the Generals ahead 50-41.
LSUA grabbed its first double-digit lead with 12:24 remaining, 56-44, on a three from Abney.
Southwest once again went to work chipping away at the Generals' lead. The Mustangs cut it to six, 67-61, with 4:58 left in regulation. A three-point play from McQuillan, layup from Abney, and a layup from McQuillan pushed LSUA's to 13, 74-61, with 2:47 left in the contest.
The Generals are back in action Thursday, February 6, as they head on the road to face North American University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM.