Home-Sweet-Home; Pilots improve to 9-1 at home with 97-88 win over Belhaven

February 09, 2004

Chad McDowell and his LSUS Pilots (14-10, 7-5) put their season high four game win streak on the line Monday night versus the Belhaven Blazers (7-15, 2-10) of Jackson, MS. In an early season contest, the Pilots defeated the Blazers 90-82. The results from Monday nights contest were no different. The LSUS Pilots extended their winning streak to 5 games as they defeated Belhaven 97-88, and are now standing alone in 5th place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

The Belhaven Blazers jumped out to a lead early in the first half as 8 players pitched in on the score sheet with at least two points. Demetrious Lewis finished the half as the leading scorer for Belhaven with 10 points and a half time high 7 rebounds. The Blazers shot 42% from the field on 16 of 38 shooting. A late Pilot run put LSUS back on top at the break 40-38. Fredericko Payne finished the half with 10 points, and also pitched in with 2 steals and 2 blocks on the defensive end for the Pilots. Justin Collins ended the half with 9 points 2 steals and 2 assists.

LSUS’ top two scorers on the year Rico Payne and Derrick Rogers took over the second half for the Pilots as they combined for a game total of 54 points. Rico Payne finished with a game high 29 points and added 5 steals, 3 assists, and 2 blocked shots. Derrick Rogers finished with 25 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. Justin Collins pitched in with 13 points, 5 steals, and 3 assists while Travis Cash rounded off the Pilot double digit scorers with 11. The Pilots combined shot 64% in the second half on 16 of 25 shooting and scored 29 points on this night from the free throw line as they completed a season high 29 of 36 attempts.

The Blazers finished the night with four players in double figures; Demetrious Lewis 18, Justin Pierce 16, Kirt Arceneuax 12, and Carey Rigsby with 10. The Blazers finished shooting 52% from the field on 35 of 68 shooting and were 13 of 23 from the line.

LSUS now must look ahead to a tough road trip to New Orleans where they will take on Southern University of New Orleans Saturday afternoon, and then match-up against the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference leader in Xavier University who handed the Pilots their only home loss of the year back in December on Monday night. The Pilots will return home and be in action again February 16 when they play host to Millsaps College.

All LSUS News Releases are Online at: http://www.lsus.edu/athletics/ To receive LSUS Sports Releases by e-mail, contact Allan Cantwell at: sports@pilot.lsus.edu

LSUS Athletics Contact: Allan Cantwell Sports Information 318-797-5194 (office) 318-572-6237 (cellular)