JOURNAL SPORTS
NEW ORLEANS — LSU Shreveport’s basketball teams carried unbeaten Red River Athletic Conference records into a Thursday night visit to always tough Xavier, and headed away still perfect with a pair of road wins.
Saturday, LSUS plays in the Houston metroplex, at Stafford in a 1:00 doubleheader at North American.
MEN – LSUS 82, XAVIER 59: The 25th-ranked Pilots followed a competitive first half with a dominant second-half showing, rising to 12–3 overall and 9–0 in RRAC action, while the Gold Rush dropped to 8–4 overall and 5–2 in conference.
LSUS led by six at halftime and Xavier got within 37-34 quickly, but reigning conference Offensive Player of the Week Hayden Brittingham answered with consecutive baskets.
Those launched a game-breaking 26-7 run, as the Pilots forced turnovers, controlled the paint, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, extending the advantage to 63–41 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Brittingham led the Pilots with 19 points, adding nine rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Thaddeus Johnson followed with 17 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Alexzaye Johnson chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. James Johnson anchored the paint with 10 rebounds and two blocks.
LSU Shreveport finished the night shooting 44.6 percent from the field, holding Xavier to just 22.8 percent shooting, including 21.1 percent from three-point range. The Pilots outrebounded the Gold Rush 50–40 and outscored Xavier 42–16 in the paint.
WOMEN – LSUS 65, XAVIER 55: LSUS led throughout as it forced 28 turnovers and converted them into 24 points, improving to 12-2 overall and 9-0 in RRAC play, while the Gold Nuggets fell to 6-6 overall and 3-4 in conference action.
LSUS set the tone early with defensive intensity, holding Xavier scoreless from the field for nearly the first six minutes of the game. The Pilots led by as much as 17 before Xavier made a fourth-quarter push within single digits.
Baskets from Ally Fleenor and Paula Gonzalez Herrero steadied the Pilots down the stretch. LSUS sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final minute.
Selma Markisic led the Pilots with 13 points, adding five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Gonzalez Herrero followed with 12 points, four rebounds, and four steals, while Amandine L’Etang posted a strong all-around performance with 10 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and three steals. Fleenor rounded out the balanced scoring effort with 10 points.