SHREVEPORT, La. – LSU Eunice would rally from a 14-point deficit but could not overtake Southern-Shreveport as the Bengals fell 88-44 on Wednesday at Jaguars Gym. 
 
LSUE (12-13) dropped to 2-3 in LCCAC play but still only a game out of the conference lead shared by Delgado CC and Baton Rouge CC.
 
The Bengals found themselves trailing 72-58 before an 11-3 run put LSUE back in striking distance.  Jacob Maxwell's (Lafayette, LA, Acadiana HS) three-pointer with 1:48 remaining cut the LSUE deficit to 79-76.  LSUE would get within two points twice in the final minute with the last coming off a slam dunk by Caleb Starks (Lafayette, LA, Lafayette Christian HS) with :07 remaining to make it an 86-84 game.
 
The Jaguars made four critical free throws in the final :30 to keep the Bengals at bay.
 
The frantic two minutes typified a back and forth first half that would feature five ties and three lead changes.  LSUE trailed 38-33 at the break but would tie quickly after intermission, 42-42, after a layup off a turnover from Michael Smith Jr. (Lafayette, LA, Comeaux HS).
 
SU-Shreveport would rattle off a 10-2 run after that last tie to distance itself.
 
Smith would score 16 points to join Brennan Maddox (Fairview, LA, Fairview HS) as the team high scorers on the night.  Kaedrick Williams (Ruston, LA, Lincoln Prep HS) filled the stat sheer with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists.
 
The Jaguars were strong inside, owning a 41-27 rebound advantage as well as a 26-8 margin of points in the paint.  D'Angelo Smith led all scorers with 21 points to lead SU-Shreveport.
 
LSU Eunice will continue its three-game conference road trip on Saturday.  The Bengals will face off with Delgado at 4:00PM inside the Alario Center in Westwego, La.