JOURNAL SPORTS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As expected, LSU Shreveport and Ave Maria lit up the scoreboard Friday in the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Championships at fabled Municipal Auditorium in the highest scoring game so far in Kansas City.
LSUS never led but rallied for three ties down the stretch before Ave Maria regained the upper hand as time wound down and prevailed 102-98, ending the Pilots’ season.
A double-digit deficit was chewed away in a stretch run rally by LSUS (28-6).
“Some teams fold. Some choose to fight. Down 15 and we never quit,” said Pilots coach Kyle Blankenship in a social media post. “Tied it with five minutes left and fought to the finish.”
Khi Wallace led the Pilots with 26 points and 11 rebounds while Hayden Brittingham added 23 points and 11 rebounds. Alexzaye Johnson delivered a strong all-around performance with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Thaddeus Johnson chipped in 13 points.
Ave Maria countered with a balanced offensive effort led by Michael Klekas, who posted 26 points and 11 rebounds. Jack Watkins recorded 21 points and 11 boards with four assists and four blocks, while Jaylen White added 17 points, Alex Sherwood contributed 14 points, and 10 rebounds and Jonathan Effertz scored 13.
The Gyrenes set the tone early, using second-chance opportunities to build a first-half advantage. Ave Maria dominated the glass throughout the opening period and carried a 46-38 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Pilots faced their largest deficit of the game at 61-46 with 17:04 remaining, but chipped away behind strong inside play, eventually tying the game at 83 following a Devonte Austin 3-pointer with 6:58 left.
From there, the contest turned into a back-and-forth battle for a few possessions before Ave Maria regained the edge for good. From an 87-all tie, the Gyrenes pushed away on an 8-2 run with two baskets and four free throws while LSUS missed four of five shots.
Despite late baskets from Wallace and Brittingham to keep the Pilots within striking distance, the Gyrenes sealed the game at the free throw line in the closing seconds.
LSU Shreveport shot 50.6 percent from the field and dominated points in the paint (64-44), but the Pilots were hindered by a 50 percent performance at the free throw line (9-of-18) and a rebounding deficit (48-36). Ave Maria converted 22-of-30 free throws and turned 48 rebounds into 26 second-chance points.
“LSU Shreveport should be proud. Shreveport-Bossier should be proud. This coach is heartbroken, but proud!” said Blankenship. “Our guys showed out all week (in Kansas City) – from community service to high flying, high scoring entertainment on the court.”
Ave Maria (30-4) knocked out Grace, the nation’s No. 2 ranked team, Saturday 99-86 to reach the Final Four and a semifinal matchup tonight with Langston.