Pilots Cruise Into GCAC Semifinals
March 05, 2009
Shreveport, La. – LSUS will play again at home on Saturday night, as the No. 2 seeded Pilots defeated the Dillard Blue Devils 85-67 to advance to the GCAC Tournament semifinals.
Despite getting injured and requiring stitches to close an open gash on his elbow, junior Mike Pilgrim dominated the game on both ends from start-to-finish to lead the Pilots. Pilgrim scored 18 points and pulled down a game and career-high 14 rebounds in a must-win game for the home team. He finished 7-of-9 from the field, including throwing down three monster dunks in the first half.
Senior Clarke Jackson also provided the Pilots with a lot of offensive fire power, tying Pilgrim for game-high honors with 18 points, while shooting a scorching 7-for-8 from the field. Jackson made the first basket of the game to put the Pilots in front early, and then connected on the final basket of the first 20 minutes with a long two pointer at the buzzer to give LSUS a seven-point half time advantage.
Another made field goal by Jackson to begin the second half stretched the Pilot lead out to nine points, but back-to-back three’s by Dillard trimmed the lead down to just three points.
Dillard eventually cut the lead down to just one point at 48-47, but LSUS responded with a quick 8-0 run and outscored the visitors 25-9 over a pivotal eight-minute stretch that put the game away.
LSUS led by as many as 21 late in the contest, before settling for an 18-point victory over the Blue Devils.
Derrick Parker and Chris Gatlin also finished in double figures with 11 points for the Pilots, while David Manning was the lone Blue Devil to reach double figures with a team-high 14 points.
LSUS (20-11) won their 20th game for the sixth consecutive season, and they will host the Belhaven Blazers on Saturday night in the GCAC semifinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.
