EUNICE, La. – For the third straight season, the LSU Eunice Men's Basketball team has established themselves as the team to beat in Louisiana junior college basketball. The Bengals (14-6 overall, 6-0 LCCAC) defeated Southern-Shreveport 87-78 on Saturday to claim at least a share of the Louisiana Community Colleges Athletic Conference regular season championship for a third year in a row.
LSUE also pushed its current win streak in LCCAC play to 20 games, dating back to the 2019-2020 season.
The Bengals found themselves in an early hole against the Jaguars, trailing 39-36 at half-time after a back and forth opening 20 minutes.
Isaiah Payne (Ville Platte, LA, Pine Prairie HS) scored 15 of his team-high 24 points in the first half to keep LSUE within striking distance.
After halftime, the Bengals showed why they are now three-time defending conference champions. LSUE was deadly from the field, hitting 70 percent (19-for-27) of their shots in the half while holding SUSLA to 15-for-47 shooting (31.9 percent).
The Bengals found themselves trailing 52-50 in the early portion of the second half before ripping off a 14-0 run to separate from the Jaguars. LSUE would put the exclamation point on the win with a series of dunks from
Alonzo Linton (Lynn, MA, Lynn English HS),
John Kenoye (Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Lee Academy (ME)) and a highlight reel posterization from
Bryce Roberts (Bossier City, LA, Parkway HS).
Jordan Hayes (Grand Prairie, TX, Mansfield Lake Ridge HS) (12 points) and
Kaden Pierre (Ama, LA, Hahnville HS) were the two other Bengals to score double digit points in the game.
LSUE can clinch the outright crown on Wednesday at Baton Rouge. Tip-off from the Capital City is set for 7:30PM.
