Pilots continue to roll with 106-86 win over Lions
November 30, 2005
Waxahachie, TX---With 2:35 remaining in the first half, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions tied the score at 39-39 after Darius Howard drained his second three-pointer of the half. The LSUS Pilots responded with a 14-4 run to end the half to take a 53-43 lead to the locker room at the break. LSUS extended their lead to as many as 27-points in the second half and went on to defeat the Lions by a final score of 106-86 to improve to 10-0 on the season.
The Pilots jumped out to a 25-16 lead 9:00 into the half thanks in large part to a 4-of-4 shooting performance from beyond the three-point line by Josh Porter.
The Lions responded with an 11-2 run out of a time-out which was capped off by a Jeremy Bowman steal and fast-break lay-up for two of his five first half points to tie the score at 27-27 with 8:32 remaining.
Howard connected on a field goal from just inside the free-throw line to give the Lions their largest lead of the game, 37-34, with 3:50 left in the half.
Pilots leading scorer Fredericko Payne collected seven points in the final minute of the half to cap off a 14-4 Pilot run giving LSUS a 53-43 at the break. Payne finished with 15 first half points while Porter added 18-points which included a 5-of-5 shooting performance from beyond the three-point line.
The Pilots uncharacteristically committed 17 first half turnovers but recovered from the early miscues with an 18-of-33 (55%) shooting performance from the field which included 7-of-10 from the three-point line.
The Lions offense was led by Howard who collected 11-points and Matt Daniels with 10-points. The Lions connected on 19-of-36 (53%) attempts from the field and were 4-of-9 from the three-point line.
The Pilots began the second half on a 13-1 run which was capped by Porter’s 6th consecutive three-pointer and led 66-44 at the 17:18 mark. The Pilots stretched their lead to as many as 27-points before allowing the Lions to cut into the lead with a 15-0 run, making the score 90-77 with 4:00 remaining. LSUS answered with a 7-0 run out of a timeout to put the game out of reach as they went on to defeat the Lions by a final score of 106-86.
SAGU outrebounded the Pilots by a 42-41 margin but fell victim to 34 turnovers. The Lions finished shooting 50% (37-74) from the field which included 8-of-18 from the three-point line and just 4-of-9 from the charity stripe. Daniels finished with a team high 23-points and 7-assists while teammates Drew Cainan and Howard added 16-points a piece.
LSUS connected on 38-of-76 (50%) field goal attempts and were a season high 15-of-26 (58%) from beyond the three-point line. Payne collected a game high 29-points and a season high 7-steals leading the Pilots to their 10th consecutive victory. Porter connected on 8-of-15 field goals including 7of-10 from the three-point line for 26-points and added four rebounds. Jeremy Johnston pitched in with 19-points and five boards while Anton Palmer finished with 16-points and a game high seven rebounds.
“I think our guys have responded very well to the challenge of playing 11 games in last 18 days,” explains Pilot Head Coach Chad McDowell. In the span of 18 days, his Pilots have played three exhibition games versus NCAA Division I opponents and have collected eight regular season wins, two of which were against NAIA Top 25 teams.
“We have started well but our biggest test of the season comes this weekend versus No. 6 Union University. We will take advantage of these next couple days off to prepare for exams and mentally prepare for what we have to do this upcoming weekend,” concludes McDowell who has his Pilots off to the best start in LSUS history at 10-0.
