HOBBS, N.M. – University of the Southwest men's basketball opened Red River Athletic Conference play with a thrilling 105-104 victory over previously unbeaten and NAIA No 2-ranked LSU Shreveport Thursday evening.
 
It's the highest-ranked opponent the USW men's basketball program has ever defeated.
 
"It's a huge win for, especially on the road and in a tough environment," USW head coach Charles Goar said following the game. "It was just a total team effort. We hit shots, moved the ball well and made extra passes. Collectively we worked hard on the defensive end and made stops when we needed to. Overall, the kids competed and worked their tails off."
 
The Mustangs (3-7, 1-0 RRAC) trailed 48-42 at halftime and rallied to defeat and hold-off the Pilots (9-1, 0-1 RRAC).
 
LSUS continued to play well to begin the second half and extended its lead to 53-42 at 18:58. However, the Mustangs went on a four-minute 15-2 run that finished with a Marcelious Green free throw.
 
The two teams traded baskets and leads before the Mustangs went on a run of their own.
 
Tied at 66-66 and with 11 minutes on the clock, USW erupted on a 22-10 run that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. The Mustangs held a commanding 88-74 lead with 5:47 to go in the half.
 
LSUS managed to gradually play itself back into the game, but a free throw from junior Ron'Quis Lewis with three seconds remaining and a defensive stand in the final seconds closed out the game for the Mustangs.
 
Green finished with a game-high 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to secure the double-double. He also added two steals and a block.
 
"Marcelious played very, very well tonight," added Goar. "He's a very confident basketball player and when he gets going it's hard to defend him. He also worked really hard tonight and all-around, he played great."
 
Lewis finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds and earned his fourth double-double of the season.
 
Senior David Blaylock finished with 27 points, five rebounds and also handed out a game-high five assists. Senior Jim Coleman scored 23 points and hit 4-of-6 shots from beyond the bend. Coleman also was 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. Senior Jeffrey Long added 12 points and hauled in eight rebounds.
 
The Mustangs shot 48 percent (35-of-72) from the floor and was 25-of-38 (66 percent) from the free-throw line. Conversely, LSUS hit 45 percent (40-of-88) of their shots and was 13-of-23 (57 percent) from the free-throw line.
 
USW also won the battle in the paint and outrebounded LSUS 52-44, including a staggering 37-27 on the defensive end.
 
The Mustangs stand tied atop the RRAC standings and await another nationally-ranked foe Saturday at No. 14 LSU Alexandria.