Box Score (PDF)

BATESVILLE, Ark. – Facing a tall order, battling against a team with nine NCAA Division I transfers, the Lyon College men's basketball team held their own and nearly pulled off the upset, but the No. 7-ranked LSU-Shreveport Pilots held on for a 78-69 win over the Scots on Tuesday night.

LSU-Shreveport evened its record to 3-3 on the year with the win, while the Scots dropped to 1-1.

Lyon and LSU-Shreveport opened up the tightly contested game with eight lead changes and three ties over the first 4:30 of the contest. After a three-pointer by Emir Sabic at the 15:37 mark gave Lyon a 14-12 lead, the Scots began to control the tempo of the game and used a 16-10 run capped off by a three-pointer by Ray Price to extend its lead to 27-22 with 7:33 left in the half.

The Scots continued to hold the lead until a three-pointer by Tim Coleman knotted the score at 35-35 with 1:39 remaining in the opening half. A pair of free throws by Rakim Lubin followed by a three-pointer by Amaad Wainright would account for the final points of the half as LSU-Shreveport took a 40-37 lead over the Scots.

LSU-Shreveport would extend its lead to eight points in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Scots weathered the storm and began to chip away. Antanas Krimelis started the comeback with a pair of free throws before the Scots began to work the work the ball inside and got a bucket each from their big men, Faris Verlasevic and Blake Bradshaw, to pull within two at 50-48 with just over 14 minutes left in the game.

The next nine minutes would be the difference in the game however as LSU-Shreveport went on a 23-9 run to pull ahead, 73-59. Lyon would answer back with a 10-3 run capped off by another three by Price, but the Pilots held on and escaped the upset bid by the Scots.

Eric Moses just missed recording his first double-double of the season as he finished with a team-high 18 points to go along with eight rebounds. Verlasevic finished with a career-high 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Jeff Garrett posted a double-double for LSUS as he finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Stamps led all scores as he netted a game-high 21 points for the Pilots.

The Lyon College men's basketball team will open up American Midwest Conference play this Saturday at Hannibal-LaGrange at 3 p.m.

Men's Basketball Contact: Matt Jagodzinski
870-307-7516 | matthew.jagodzinski@lyon.edu
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