SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 23, 2012) -- The Our Lady of the Lake University men's basketball team won its 13th consecutive game Saturday afternoon against the University of the Southwest. The 116-88 win in Mabee Gymnasium was the Saints sixth 100+ game in a row and improves their record to 12-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference and 15-3 overall. Southwest drops to 5-7 in conference and 8-8 overall.

The Saints retain their first-place standing in the conference with a 2 ½ game lead over second-place Texas Wesleyan University  (9-2/14-3). LSU-Shreveport (8-3/10-6) and the University of St. Thomas (8-3/10-7) follow at 3 ½ games behind.

A smooth 3-pointer by Ricardo Zanini started the game and a field goal by Southwest's Michael Darden took the score to 3-2 — this would be the closest Southwest would get to the Saints through the rest of the competition. With four minutes into the game, the Saints were up by seven at 14-7 after another 3-pointer from Zanini. Lo'Ron Smith and Robert Martinez added their own 3-pointers to go up 20-9. At the 11th minute, The Saints took their biggest lead of 18 points at 31-13, and with less than three minutes remaining in the half, the Saints lead by 27 at 63-36. The Mustangs added five more points to end the half with the Saints leading 63-41.

The Saints missed one free throw out of 18 for 94 percent, and they completed 19-of-39 from the field (49 percent) and 8-of-19 from 3-point range (32 percent). The Mustangs were relegated to 2-of-8 from 3-point range (25 percent).  

Zanini led all players in scoring at the half with 21 points.

The Saints did not let up in the second half as they would go up by 37 with 12 minutes left in the game. Virgil Cissoko scored a Saints field goal with five minutes remaining in the game to put the Saints passed the century mark for the sixth consecutive time. OLLU closed out the game with the 116-88 win.

Southwest committed 40 turnovers, while forcing 30. Both teams shot 50 percent from the field and 84 percent from the free-throw line. The Saints shot 40 percent from 3-point range, while the Mustangs shot 23 percent.

Zanini led the Saints in scoring with 24, making 8-of-14 from the field, 4-of-9 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Smith added 18 points, making 5-of-11 field goals, 4-of-9 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws. Marco Cooper (pictured at right) added 16 points, two blocks and four steals, while Martinez scored 10 points. Josh Orta recorded 12 assists and three steals.

Southwest's Demetrius Evans, the conference's leading scorer, finished with 27 points. Michael Darden added 11 points for the Mustangs.

The Saints will meet Southwest again this evening. Tipoff in Hobbs, N.M. is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.