Athletics

Pilots climb back into NAIA Top 25

February 21, 2007

Shreveport, LA---The No. 19 LSUS Pilots (21-6) have won seven of their last eight games, including six of their last seven in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference which has put them back in the NAIA Top 25 for the first time since January 21st.

The Pilots have climbed their way back to the top of the GCAC as they currently sit in a tree-way tie for first place with Xavier University and Tougaloo College.  With two regular season contests remaining, the defending 2005 & 2006 GCAC Regular Season Champions and the 2006 GCAC Conference Tournament Champions are in control of their own fate.  If the Pilots prevail in their two remaining GCAC contests, they will solidify their 3rd consecutive GCAC crown and seal an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

LSUS will travel to Tougaloo, MS Thursday night where they will look to avenge a 91-78 home loss at the hands of TC January 22nd. The Bulldogs have matched the Pilots current five game winning streak to remain in GCAC Championship contention. TC shooting guard Darius Simmons earned GCAC Player of the Week honors after leading TC to a perfect 3-0 record last week. Simmons is currently the 3rd leading scorer in the NAIA averaging 24.3 points per contest.

The Pilots home loss at the hands of TC was suffered while starting point guard Freddy Hughes was sidelined with an ankle injury. Hughes is currently averaging 15.4 points and leads the team in assists with 126. The Pilots were 1-3 with Hughes on the sideline, but have won six of seven since his return.

A victory on Thursday night for the Pilots would put them one step closer to their 3rd consecutive GCAC title, but the “three-peat” would be far from complete as the Pilots host the Southern University of New Orleans Knights Saturday night at The Dock. The Pilots dropped a 77-64 decision at the hands of the Knights during their 1-3 skid without Hughes in the lineup. A capacity crowd is expected Saturday night in hopes of witnessing the Pilots claim the GCAC Championship on LSUS Homecoming weekend.