Generals crash offensive boards to hand Eagles 88-80 conference loss

A&M-Texarkana shot a blistering 57 percent from the field in Saturday's conference game against LSU-Alexandria, but the visiting Generals somehow managed to escape with an 88-80 win at the Patterson Center.

The Eagles (3-4, 1-1 RRAC) made 28-of-49 shots, including 10-of-20 from behind the three-point line, but the Generals (2-4, 1-1) had two players with at least 23 points and four with 12 or more, offsetting the hosts positive shooting night.

Levelle Zeigler led the Eagles with 20 points and six assists, Kaden Keal added 16 and Colby Rasberry scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds. Rebounding made a huge difference as the Eagles gave up 15 offensive boards that LSUA turned into 17 second chance points.

JD Allen led all scorers with 26 points (including six triples) to go with seven rebounds and four steals, Kashie Natt posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 boards, Isaiah Howard added 16 points and Jason Perry tossed in 12 for the Generals.

Each team reached their largest lead in the first half, with the Eagles leading by two points very early in the contest and the Generals going up by as many as 14 with three minutes to play before intermission. TAMUT shot 68 percent (15-of-22) in the first half but trailed 51-43 at the break.

The Eagles got within a point early in the second half and tied it at 57-57 on a Dezmond Washington triple at the 15:11 mark, but the Generals stretched it out to a 73-62 advantage with 9:23 to play. TAMUT continued to dig, clawing back to within four points with four minutes to play, but could not get any closer.

TAMUT will have 11 days off before returning to action Thursday, Dec. 14 at Huston-Tillotson, the first of two conference road games in a row.