Box Score (PDF)
BATESVILLE, Ark. – For the second straight game, the Lyon College men's basketball team held their own against an NAIA top-25 opponent. Lyon was ahead, 76-72, with just under three minutes to play, but No. 19 LSU-Alexandria ended the game on a 9-1 run and escaped another up attempt by the Scots, 81-77, on Tuesday afternoon.
LSUA improved to 8-2 on the season, while the Scots dropped to 0-2.
The Generals came out hot from the field and jumped out to a 21-10 lead midway through the first half. After a bucket each by both teams, Cole Anderson hit on a jumper in the paint and sparked a 7-0 run for the Scots as Zalek Sharp pulled the Scots within four, 23-19.
LSUA pushed its lead back up to eight following a three-pointer by Casey Smith, but Ben Keton responded with a three of his own ahead of a jumper by Faris Verlasevic that cut the deficit to three, 30-27. The Generals used a pair of three-pointers late in the first half to give themselves a 41-33 lead at the break.
A layup by Winston Peace just three minutes into the second half opened up a 10-0 run as another bucket by Verlasevic gave Lyon a 52-29 lead with 13:50 remaining. The two teams kept the game close over the next seven minutes as the score became tied six times within that span. Peace broke a 65-65 tie on a contested layup following an offensive rebound and capped off a 9-2 run with another layup that gave the Scots a 74-67 advantage.
The Scots tried to hold off the Generals down the stretch, but a pair of free throws by Jakemin Abney gave LSUA a 77-76 lead with 1:03 left on the clock. A pair of turnovers by the Scots proved costly in their next two possessions as LSUA was able to hold off Lyon in the final seconds of the game.
Peace led all scorers in the game as he finished with a career-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds. Anderson chipped in 17 points with six rebounds, while Dominique Loyd ended with 13 points.
Abney led LSUA with 17 points.
The Scots will now shift their focus to Thursday when they open up American Midwest Conference play on the road at Hannibal-LaGrange. Tip-off for Thursday night's game is set for 7:30 p.m. However, fans are not permitted for Thursday night's game.
Men's Basketball Contact: Matt Jagodzinski
870-307-7516 | matthew.jagodzinski@lyon.edu
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