ALEXANDRIA, La. – The No. 2 Louisiana State University of Alexandria men's basketball team utilized a strong second half to take down North American University, 73-62.
 
"Negative, we have to be better in the first half," LSUA Head Coach Dimario Jackson said. "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."
 
Kashie Natt and EJ McQuillan led the Generals (20-1, 17-1 RRAC) with 19 points each. Natt shot 5-for-9 from the field, while McQuillan knocked down 50% of his shots. Natt also led LSUA with nine rebounds. He added five assists and four steals to his totals. The Generals totaled 34 points in the paint, nine points off turnovers, 15 second chance points, and the bench chipped in 23 points.
 
The first half was tightly contested by the Generals and Stallions (9-15, 5-14 RRAC). The lead flipped possession multiple times in the opening 14 minutes, until a pair of free throws from Natt put LSUA ahead 20-19.
 
A layup from Jakemin Abney and a three from McQuillan extended the advantage to 25-16. Natt tacked on a pair of free throws on the Generals' next possession.
 
The Stallions cut the lead to two, 27-25, before Abney knocked down a jumper.
 
LSUA went into halftime with a one-point lead, 31-30.
 
The opening four minutes of the second half were reminiscent of the first. The Stallions kept the score close. The Generals then opened a 19-0 run over the next six minutes of play.
 
Leading 40-39, Natt opened the run with a free throw and followed it with a dunk. McQuillan knocked down a free throw, before Kaleb Pouncy converted a layup. McQuillan followed with a three and Kheiri Haynes put in a layup. Natt picked up another basket and McQuillan drained a second three, before Nicholas Kaigler added a trey of his own. At the end of the run, LSUA led 59-39.
 
North American pulled with 14, but the Generals responded by pushing their lead back to 22 with just under five minutes to play.
 
A late rally from the Stallions saw three consecutive baskets to end the game, bringing the deficit to 11, 73-62.
 
The Generals outscored the Stallions, 42-32, in the second half. McQuillan led the offense with 12 points in the back end, including a 3-for-4 mark from long range.
 
LSUA is back in action on Saturday, February 8, as the Generals travel to Huston-Tillotson University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.