TAMU-T teams split with LSU-S
SHREVEPORT, La. — Texas A&M University-Texarkana women’s basketball program never trailed Thursday against LSU-Shreveport and walked away with its 20th win of the season while the 24th-ranked men’s program struggled to overcome an early deficit in its loss that puts them in second place in the Red River Athletic Conference standings.
TAMU-T WOMEN SWEEP PILOTS
Texas A&M University-Texarkana scored the first seven points of the game Thursday and never trailed on the way to a 65-54 road victory over LSU-Shreveport, widening the Eagles’ lead over the Pilots at the top of the Red River Athletic Conference.
A&M-Texarkana (20-1 overall, 150 RRAC) held the Pilots (18-6, 12-4) to just 35% shooting from the floor and earned a plus-12 advantage on the glass. The Eagles led by as many as 16 points midway through the fourth period.
Breasia Mathews scored a gamehigh 17 points, pulled down nine rebounds and produced four steals defensively. Reneya Hopkins added 16 points, including three triples, and Vasha Moore had 10 points for the Eagles.
TAMU-T is back home Saturday for its final home game of the regular season, taking on LSU-Alexandria (913, 8-7) at 2 p.m.
Prior to the game, the Eagles will honor six senior members. The women have won 17 consecutive games and are a perfect 12-0 at home. They took the first matchup with the Generals back on Dec. 17, a 69-58 win in Alexandria, La.
TAMU-T MEN FALL SHORT, SLIDE IN STANDINGS
Cold shooting and turnovers put No. 24 Texas A&M University-Texarkana in an early hole Thursday during a battle of the top two teams in the Red River Athletic Conference, and host LSU-Shreveport did enough down the stretch to hold on for a 66-63 win over the Eagles in a hotly contested game.
The Eagles (18-5 overall, 11-4 RRAC) fell behind by double digits midway through the first half and trailed by as many as 16 points just before halftime, managing just 37 percent shooting and committing 20 turnovers. The Pilots (18-5, 12-3) shot 42%, helping them overcome a huge rebounding deficit where the Eagles held a 49-33 advantage on the glass.
TAMU-T got the deficit down to single digits with 11 minutes to play and tied the game at 62-62 with three minutes on the clock, but would manage a single free throw from that point. LSU-S iced the game at the line and Miles Black missed a potential game-tying heave at the buzzer.
Tray Spencer led the Eagles with 19 points and added seven rebounds, Kobe Powell scored 15 points and grabbed 14 boards, and Pleasant Grove graduate Connor Ouellette added 12 points and six rebounds.
The Eagles return home this weekend to honor seven seniors prior to Saturday’s 4 p.m. matchup against LSU-Alexandria (15-7, 9-5). TAMU-T is looking to earn a split in the season series, having lost at Alexandria back on Dec. 17.