LSU Eunice was upset by Meridian in the quarterfinals of the Region 23 tournament on Wednesday night in the HPRE Center. A combination of poor shooting and great defense by the Eagles led to the Bengals’ struggles. They finish the season with a 19-4 overall record.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both teams seemed focused early, as they traded baskets early on. Bengals’ leading scorer Bryce Roberts hit three 3-point shots in the first half, and Kaden Pierre led them with 11 points in the half.
The Eagles were paced by Chris Terrell. Terrell came in as the leading scorer and did not waste any time getting involved. By halftime, he had already scored 18 points and was instrumental in building the Eagles’ 37-29 lead.
The second half saw more great defense from Meridian, as LSUE never established an offensive rhythm. Kaden Pierre fouled out midway through the half, and from there the Bengals had no answers on the offensive end. Randarius Hughes led the way in the second half and the Eagles walked away with a 72-57 victory to end the Bengals’ season in a surprising upset.
BIG NUMBER: 21
Chris Terrell pitched in 21 points to lead the Eagles. The second team All-MACCC selection a year ago proved to be the difference in sending the Bengals home.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chris Terrell
Terrell impacted the game not only offensively but also on the defensive side. His playmaking and defensive efforts were more than enough to help the Eagles secure the quarterfinal victory.