SHREVEPORT, La. – The University of St. Thomas men's basketball team knocked off Louisiana State University-Shreveport Friday night, 92-84.

The Celts (12-5, 4-2 Red River Athletic Conference) moved a game ahead of the Pilots (11-8, 4-3) in the league standings. LSU-Shreveport had been receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll.

St. Thomas trailed 26-15 with 8:15 to go in the first half, but Nicholas Perez (JR/Katy, Texas) hit two straight field goals, and Cameron Gims (FR/Cypress, Texas) added another with 3:52 left on the clock to cut it to 32-27. Orowo Eleyae (SR/Houston, Texas) hit two field goals in a 31-second span to pull the Celts within one. Gims buried a three with 32 seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 38.

The Celts were 13 of 33 from the field, including 6 of 16 from three-point range in the first half. The Pilots were 15 of 33, and 5 of 14 from long distance.

Perez, who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, put UST ahead, 57-56, with 12:08 remaining. Rakim Lubin converted a three-point play at the 8:02 mark to give LSUS a 66-65 lead. Eleyae scored eight straight points for the Celts to move St. Thomas in front, 73-68, with 6:37 to go. Jeff Garrett's basket pulled the Pilots within four before Paris Marquez (SR/Atascocita, Texas) and Eleyae each scored to bump UST's lead out to eight. The Celts sank nine of 10 free throws down the stretch to put it away.

Eleyae had 26 points on 11 of 17 shooting. Marquez had 15 points and five assists. Gims and Sam Flores (SR/El Paso, Texas) each scored 11 points.

The Celts shot 50.8 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three-point range. They were 19 of 22 from the free throw line. The Pilots shot 43.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. They went 12 of 19 from the free throw line.

Shreveport outrebounded St. Thomas, 47-30. UST's bench outscored LSSU, 36-13.

St. Thomas will play at No. 1 LSU-Alexandria 7:30 p.m. Saturday.