Pilots Bomb Blazers to Advance to GCAC Finals
March 07, 2009
SHREVEPORT, La. – The LSUS Pilots will advance to the GCAC Tournament finals for the fourth consecutive year, as they defeated the Belhaven Blazers 94-75 and in very convincing fashion in the semifinal round on Saturday night at The Dock.
LSUS jumped out to a 15-3 lead just three minutes into the contest, thanks to five made three-point baskets including three by senior Tyrone Hamilton. After a Belhaven basket made the score 15-5, the Pilots used an 18-2 run to extend their lead out to 33-7 halfway through the first half.
The Pilots stretched their lead out to as many as 29 points (41-12) at the 8:00 mark after another made three-pointer by Hamilton, and would take a 51-31 lead into the break.
In the second half, Belhaven trimmed the LSUS lead to 14 points just four minutes into the final half, but they would never get any closer as the Pilots responded with a brief 7-0 to put the game further out of reach.
Hamilton paced the Pilots with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 7-of-11 from behind the three-point line. He also added 11 assists to his stat line to finish with a double-double in the win.
Junior Mike Pilgrim connected on 5 of his 7 attempts to finish with 16 points, while also pulling down a team-high 9 rebounds.
Clarke Jackson and Jared Stevenson were the Pilots’ two other double-figure scorers, finishing with 11 and 10 points respectively.
LSUS shot over 57% from the field in the game, including going a season-high 15-for-25 (60%) from the three-point line.
On the other end of the court, Belhaven struggled to put the ball in the basket. The visitors finished shooting just over 37% for the game, but they shot a miserable 5-for-23 from the arc.
Nathaniel Roche’ led a host of Blazers in double figures with 15. Iman Walcott and Krayleon Winston each finished with 13 points, while Korey Whiting and Hunter Jeffrey each ended the night with 10.
LSUS (21-11) will host Spring Hill College on Tuesday night at 7:00 P.M. in the finals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. This will not only be the fourth straight finals appearance for the Pilots, but it is also the fourth straight year that they will host the tournament championship game on their home floor.
