EUNICE, La. - LSU Eunice could not hold back a surging Meridian CC club as the Bengals fell 72-57 on Wednesday in second round action of the Region 23 Tournament.  LSUE (19-4) hosted the game as the number two seed in the 12-team field.
 
The Bengals seemed primed for a back-and-forth game as LSUE used a stingy press defense to keep ahead of the Eagles early on.  LSUE would use a Puoch "PJ" Dubuol, Jr. (St. Cloud, MN, Apollo HS) fast break layup off a turnover to hold a 17-16 lead with just under nine minutes left to play before intermission. 
 
It was the last time LSUE would hold a lead in the game.  Meridian would take a 23-22 lead and push its advantage to double digits with a 10-1 spurt.  LSUE would trail 37-29 at the break as Kaden Pierre (Ama, LA, Hahnville HS) led the Bengals with 11 of his team-high 16 points before intermission.
 
Meridian's Chris Terrell led the Eagles with 18 of his game-high 21 points coming in the first half.
 
LSUE could not get in a rhythm after the break, scoring just 28 points in the second half, the second lowest point total after half this season.
 
Nasir DeGruy (New Orleans, LA, St. Augustine HS) chipped in 14 points while Bryce Roberts (Bossier City, LA, Parkway HS) added 11.