ALEXANDRIA, LA – It took overtime, but the Louisiana State University of Alexandria men's basketball defeated Xavier University (La.) 95-93.
 
"Was it pretty? No," LSUA Head Coach Dimario Jackson said. "We knew it was going to be that style of game. A lot is on the line so everyone is getting close to playing their best basketball. At this time of the year, it's just about going 1-0. I want to congratulate our team because two months ago, we would have lost a game like this. The level of growth for the team is really good."
 
EJ McQuillan recorded 27 points and shot 8-for-16 from the field. He was 4-for-7 from long range and 7-for-9 from the free throw line. McQuillan also recorded eight assists and five rebounds. PD McCraney recorded 23 points and went 5-for-10 from deep. Courtney McCarthy tallied 22 points and finished 9-for-12 from the field. Jordan Decuir was the final General (14-6, 11-3 RRAC) in double digits with 14 points.  LSUA shot 50.8-percent from the field as a unit and went 12-for-25 from long range. The Generals scored 32 points in the paint and 24 points off turnovers.
 
Xavier (La.) (12-6, 9-4 RRAC) were led by Jamal Gibson's 28 points. Bentravin Phillips recorded 20, while Leon Williams recorded 12.
 
The Gold Nuggets led for 32:46, or 72.4-percent of the game, while the Generals led for just 7:28 or 16.6-percent of the contest. Xavier reached their largest lead of the game in the first half, an eight-point advantage, 34-26.
 
A late possession three from McQuillan at the end of the first half sent LSUA into the locker room trailing 35-31.
 
Five minutes into the second half, a jumper from McQuillan put LSUA ahead, 43-41. The lead jumped from back and forth through the middle of the half and Xavier held a slim lead in the waning minutes.
 
With 1:19 left in regulation, free throws from Phillips put XULA ahead by seven, 79-72. A three from McCraney cut it to four, but Phillips went back to the line for two more. McQuillan knocked down a three on the Generals' possession.
 
A turnover from the Gold Rush gave way to a game-tying three from McCraney with 49 seconds left, 81-81, to force overtime.
 
McCarthy notched the first bucket in overtime for LSUA and it was answered by a pair of free throws from Phillips. A three from McCarthy put the Generals back ahead 86-83.
 
Two more free throws from Phillips and a dunk from Torin Bell flipped the lead to Xavier, 87-86.
 
The Generals answered with a layup from McQuillan to reclaim a one-point led. On the Gold Rush's possession, Gibson hauled in an offensive board and converted the layup to flip the lead once more in Xavier's favor.
 
A three-point play by Bell with 1:30 left in the period gave Xavier a 92-90 lead.
 
McCarthy found McCraney for a three on the Generals' possession to put LSUA up 93-92. McQuillan forced a turnover and was subsequently fouled. He knocked won both chances at the line.
 
With just three seconds left, Phillips was fouled beyond the arc and sent to the line for three. He converted only once as the Generals hung on for the 95-93 win.
 
LSUA travels to Texas A&M-Texarkana and LSU Shreveport next week for a pair of RRAC matchups.