Men's Basketball Send Saints Home and Advance to RRAC Semifinals

Alexandria, Louisiana— In a thrilling battle in the RRAC Conference Quarterfinals, the Pilots of LSUS emerged victorious with a hard-fought 84-71 win over the Saints of Our Lady of the Lake. In a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer, the Pilots showcased their resilience and determination to advance to the next round of the tournament. With the win the Pilots move to an overall record of 22-7 and advance to the RRAC Semifinals.

The game got off to a competitive start, with the Saints striking first to take an early lead. However, the Pilots quickly found their rhythm and fought back, exchanging shots with their opponents as they vied for control of the game. After six minutes of intense action, the Pilots managed to break through and seize the lead, setting the stage for a closely contested first half.

As the clock expired on the half, the Pilots held a narrow 37-35 lead over the Saints. Despite the close scoreline, the Pilots showcased their efficiency on both ends of the court, shooting 16-31 from the field with two three-pointers and three made free throws. They also demonstrated their defensive prowess, compiling 17 rebounds, five steals, and six blocks to keep the Saints in check. On the other side, the Saints were 14-36 from the field with four three-pointers and a perfect 3-3 from the free-throw line.

Coming out of the halftime break, the Pilots wasted no time in extending their lead, using a series of runs to build a commanding 17-point advantage with ten minutes remaining in the game. Despite the Saints' efforts to claw their way back into contention, the Pilots remained composed and held on to secure the hard-fought victory.

Four Pilots scored in double digits, showcasing the team's depth and offensive firepower. Leading the scoring charge was Calvin Carpenter, who poured in 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, including one three-pointer and seven made free throws. Carpenter also made significant contributions on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds and adding two steals. Close behind him was Paul King, who contributed 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including two made threes and five made free throws. Damon Davis added 12 points, while Jalen King chipped in with 10 points.

On the glass, Josh LeBlanc led the way for the Pilots, hauling in an impressive 13 rebounds to help control the battle in the paint.

With this hard-fought victory, the Pilots of LSUS advanced to the next round of the RRAC Conference Tournament, drawing confidence from their resilient performance as they continue their pursuit of postseason success. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm CT from the Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria, Louisiana.

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