LSU Alexandria outlasts Xavier (La.) 77-73 in RRAC men’s tournament battle

LSU Alexandria used balanced scoring and a dominant effort on the glass to edge Xavier (La.) 77-73 in the Red River Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament Saturday night at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, La.

The Generals led 31-29 at halftime and narrowly outscored Xavier 46-44 in the second half to secure the four-point victory. LSU Alexandria improved its shooting to 42.1% from the field for the game (24 of 57) and converted 25 of 35 free throws, while Xavier finished at 39.0% (23 of 59) and went 22 of 31 at the line. The most decisive team statistic came on the boards, where LSU Alexandria held a 41-27 rebounding advantage.

EJ McQuillan and Jordan Decuir carried the offensive load for LSU Alexandria. McQuillan scored a team-high 26 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 2 of 6 from 3-point range, and went 10 of 13 at the foul line while adding three rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes. Decuir provided an efficient 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting, knocking down 2 of 3 from beyond the arc and 6 of 8 free throws, and also grabbed three rebounds despite battling foul trouble.

Xavier stayed within one or two possessions for much of the contest behind a standout performance from guard Bentravin Phillips. Phillips poured in a game-high 28 points, going 8 of 17 from the field and 10 of 11 at the free-throw line, and added three rebounds, two assists and three steals while playing all 40 minutes. The Gold Rush protected the ball well, turning it over just eight times compared with 13 for LSU Alexandria, which helped them stay close despite the rebounding disparity.

Both teams struggled from long range in the tournament matchup. LSU Alexandria finished 4 of 18 (22.2%) from 3-point distance, while Xavier went 5 of 21 (23.8%). The Generals compensated by repeatedly attacking the paint and drawing fouls, earning four more free-throw attempts and making three more than Xavier. LSU Alexandria also finished with an 11-7 edge in assists, reflecting slightly more balanced ball movement in the half-court.

The back-and-forth nature of the game was reflected in the scoring by halves. LSU Alexandria took a slim 31-29 lead into the break after a defensive first half, then both offenses opened up in the second half as the teams combined for 90 points after halftime. Despite Phillips’ efforts to keep Xavier within striking distance, LSU Alexandria’s combination of interior rebounding and timely scoring from McQuillan and Decuir proved to be the difference in the closing minutes.

The contest was officiated by Joe Willbur, Samuel Phillips and Al Freeman, with an announced attendance of 300 for the RRAC tournament matchup. With the win, LSU Alexandria advances in conference postseason play, while Xavier exits after a competitive showing highlighted by Phillips’ 28-point performance.