Men's Basketball: Pilots win season opener
November 06, 2012
JACKSON, Miss. - LSU Shreveport Head Coach Kyle Blankenship picked up his first win in his coaching career as his Pilots downed the Belhaven Blazers 85-75 on Tuesday night at Rugg Arena. Both teams had four scorers finish the game in double figures.
The Pilots (1-0) built a six-point lead by halftime but the home team rallied back to tie the game with seven minutes to play in the contest but the Pilots kept the pressure to build a 10-point cushion by the final buzzer.
Mark Politte led the visitors in their season opener with 20 points after a six of 13 performance from the field and was seven of nine from the free-throw line. Rodney Milum had 17 points while Aaron Jones tossed in 13 points and Rydell Harrris turned in a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds. LSUS also had a pair of scorers close to the double digit mark with Isaac Reid and Breion Beaver each netting nine points each.
Rydell Harris' 15 rebounds led the Pilots to win the rebound battle as well over the Blazers 46-37 and Reid was the only other Pilots with double digit boards with 10 rebounds on a night that saw two teams at early season forms with plenty turnovers with a total of 43 between the two squads.
Belhaven (1-2) struggled against the Pilots defense allowing 20 turnovers but the Blazers did managed to match the Pilots in double figure scoring with five but it was not enough as LSUS spoiled their home opener. Jordan Butts did however manage a triple-double in the game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Pilots and Blazers will meet again this season at The Dock in Shreveport for the Pilots home opener on November 20th at 6 p.m.
LSUS will remain on the road for the next four games including the next three exhibition games. Their next contest is against Midwestern State on Nov. 9 in Weatherford, Okla. Their next regular season game is against Paul Quinn College on the road on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
