Posted: Mar 01, 2026
Top-seeded LSU Shreveport will vie for the RRAC Men's Hoops Championship against No. 2 LSU Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA, La. (Feb. 28, 2026) – LSU Alexandria secured a 77-73 win over Xavier (La.) with balanced scoring and strong rebounding in the first RRAC Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal game. LSU Shreveport defeated Texas A&M-Texarkana 71-53 in the second semifinal. Both teams will advance to the championships at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, at Laborde Earles Coliseum in Alexandria, La.
SEMIFINALS GAME RECAPS
Semifinals Game One: LSU Alexandria 77-Xavier 73
The Generals led 31-29 at halftime and outscored XULA 46-44 in the second half to secure the four-point win. LSUA shot 42.1 percent from the field (24-of-57) and made 25-of-35 free throws, while XULA shot 39.0 percent (23-of-59) and converted 22-of-31 at the line. LSUA's 41-27 rebounding advantage proved decisive.
EJ McQuillan led LSUA with 26 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 2-of-6 from three-point range, and 10-of-13 at the foul line, along with three rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes. Jordan Decuir added 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-8 free throws, plus three rebounds despite foul trouble.
XULA stayed within one or two possessions for much of the contest behind a standout performance from guard Bentravin Phillips. Phillips poured in a game-high 28 points, going 8-of-17 from the field and 10-of-11 at the free-throw line, and added three rebounds, two assists, and three steals while playing all 40 minutes. The Gold Rush protected the ball well, turning it over just eight times compared with 13 for LSUA, which helped them stay close despite the rebounding disparity.
Both teams struggled from three-point range, with LSUA shooting 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) and XULA 5-of-21 (23.8 percent). The Generals compensated by attacking the paint, drawing fouls, and earning four more free-throw attempts, converting three more than XULA. LSUA also led in assists, 11-7, reflecting more balanced ball movement.
The game remained close throughout, with LSUA leading 31-29 at halftime, before both offenses combined to score 90 points in the second half. Despite Phillips' 28 points for XULA, LSUA's rebounding and timely scoring from McQuillan and Decuir secured the win in the final minutes.
Semifinals Game Two: LSU Shreveport 71-Texas A&M-Texarkana 55
The Pilots relied on strong defense and balanced scoring to control the game, building a halftime lead and maintaining it throughout. Shreveport limited TAMUT's perimeter opportunities, forced contested drives, and secured defensive rebounds, preventing second-chance points.
TAMUT remained close early, but LSUS made a key run late in the first half, turning defensive stops into transition points and extending the lead to double digits by halftime. As LSUS tightened its defense, TAMUT's offense cooled. The Pilots led 43-28 in the first half and had a one-point advantage in the second half, 28-27.
The Eagles opened the second half with increased pressure and quicker offense, briefly reducing the deficit. However, the Pilots responded with disciplined half-court play, drawing fouls and making key mid-range shots. Each TAMUT run was met with timely LSUS scoring and defensive stops.
Daryl Houston led TAMUT with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-7 at the foul line, along with three rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes. Jordan Decuir added 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-8 free throws, plus three rebounds despite foul trouble.
LSUS's depth and steady defense stood out in the second half. The Pilots sometimes pressed, disrupting TAMUT's rhythm and making them use more of the shot clock. With TAMUT still missing outside shots, the Eagles couldn't put together a comeback.
In the final minutes, LSUS maintained control by managing the clock and limiting fouls and turnovers. The 71-53 result reflected the Pilots' consistent performance, while TAMUT's brief runs were not enough for a comeback.
LSUS shot 45.9 percent from the field (28-of-617) and made 8-of-15 free throws, while TAMUT shot 39 percent (22-of-63) and converted 7-of-13 at the line. LSUS's 49-24 rebounding advantage proved decisive.
Starter Hayden Brittingham led LSUS with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, along with 11 rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Starter Alexzaye Johnson scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, while Devonte Austin tallied 11 points.
With this win, LSUS moves on to the championship game and will try for its first postseason title since 2022. TAMUT leaves the tournament after being held to 53 points, showing their struggles against Shreveport's defense.
History
LSUA joined the RRAC in the 2014-15, and before that, the Generals competed as a member of the Association of Independent Institutions. They have won seven RRAC regular-season titles and five postseason trophies. Last season, LSUA qualified for the postseason as the top seed. The Generals defeated Texas A&M-Texarkana to advance to the finals, where they beat seventh-seed Southwest (N.M.) 88-79. LSUA completed the 2025-26 season with an RRAC record of 18-4 and is currently 23-7 overall.
LSUS joined the RRAC in the 2010-11 season and previously competed in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. The team has won six regular-season titles with the RRAC and five tournament titles. In 2024-25, fifth-seed LSUS lost to fourth-seed Texas A&M-Texarkana 88-67 in the quarterfinals to end the season. The Pilots completed the RRAC schedule with a 20-2 record and are currently 25-5.