The McLennan Highlanders closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 66-60 win on the road over the LSU-Eunice Bengals in Eunice, Louisiana.
It appeared that LSU-Eunice would control the game early on as the Bengals built a 10-point lead over McLennan. The Highlanders finally found their rhythm and pulled away in the final seven minutes of the first half to take the 35-20 lead at intermission.
The second half was a series of runs between the two squads. The Bengals opened on a 5-0 run to trim the McLennan back to 10, 35-25. The Highlanders pushed the lead back to 14 before LSU-Eunice rallied once again. The Bengals pulled within seven at 41-34 with just over 16 minutes remaining in the game. McLennan quickly extended the lead back to double figures and held LSU-Eunice at arm's length for the next 10 minutes of play. The Highlanders led 58-46 with 6:51 on the clock. Once again the Tigers found a way to rally late in the half, pulling within two points with 20 seconds to play, 62-60. CJ Hall hit a pair of free throws with 14 seconds to go to give McLennan a little breathing room. Cedric Kelley then added two more in the final seconds to secure the win.
AJ Barnes led McLennan with a double-double, 20 points and 12 rebounds. Omarion Smith also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. CJ Hall scored 13.
McLennan: Nick Shogbonyo 3 0-0 8; CJ Hall 3 5-5 13; Dayvaughn Froe 0 0-0 0; Jaylen Thompson 0 0-0 0; A.J. Barnes 8 3-5 20; Jared Clawson 2 2-2 6; Omarion Smith 5 5-8 15; Mason Lockhart 0 0-0 0; Kaleb Pouncy 0 0-0 0; Cedric Kelley 2 2-2 6; Totals: 23 17-22 66.
LSU-Eunice:
Nasir DeGruy 6 0-1 14; Bryce Roberts 2 0-0 6; Corey Pope 2 0-0 4; Seviuhn Turner 0 5-6 5; Christian Landry 1 0-0 3; Nikola Letic 3 2-2 8; Kaden Pierre 1 0-0 2; Braylon Richard 0 0-0 0; Athiaan Manyiel 0 0-0 0; Kiani Saxon 4 0-0 10; Isaac Weaver 2 4-4 8; Bryce Bickham 0 0-0 0; Totals: 21 11-13 60.
3-pointers: McLennan 5 (Shogobnyo 2, Hall 2, Barnes 1), LSU-Eunice 7 (DeGruy 2, Roberts 2, Saxon 2, Landry 1) Total fouls: McLennan 10, LSU-Eunice 13; Halftime score: McLennan 35, LSU-Eunice 20; Record: McLennan 13-3.
