Shreveport, La. – The LSUS men’s basketball team held off a late push by the William Carey Crusaders to pick up a 61-55 victory on Saturday night at The Dock.

Chris Gatlin’s three-point basket with 49 seconds left in the game helped lift the Pilots to a much-needed win in GCAC play.  With the Pilots leading by just one (56-55), freshman Derrick Parker found Gatlin open in the corner, where he nailed the game’s biggest shot.

LSUS and Carey battled back and forth for the first 15 minutes until the Pilots went on a late 11-5 run to end the half and head into the break up by five.

The Pilots extended their lead to as many as 11 points midway through the second half, but a 7-0 carey run from the 8-minute mark to the 6-minute mark closed the Pilot lead to just two points.   

Carey would eventually get within one point with 1:54 remaining in the contest on a made basket by Dexter Middleton; however that would be the last basket the visitors would score in the game, as Gatlin’s three put the Pilots back in front by four.

Gatlin led the Pilots with a game-high 18 points, while Mike Pilgrim chipped in a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Tyrone Hamilton was the only other Pilot to reach double figures, finishing with 13 points and a game-high 7 assists.

Julius Blanks of William Carey was the only Crusader in double figures, scoring 13 points for the visitors.

LSUS (17-9, 10-4) will next face the University of Mobile on Thursday night in Mobile.