NEW ORLEANS, La. ---- The Life University men's basketball team swept a pair of games in the Classic on the Oaks that was hosted by Dillard University over the weekend. The Running Eagles defeated Southern University at New Orleans Friday night 78-74, before upsetting the host No. 11 Dillard 87-81.

Leading the way for the Running Eagles was Jay Jay Simpson, who garnered Mid-South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the week. He finished with 22 on Friday and added 20 in the upset. He finished with eight assists and was 6-11 from behind the arc. Evan Milligan also finished in double figures with a pair of 14-point performances. Connor Gamble (17 and 13), Deven Dorsett (12 and 16) and DJ Scott (10) scored double digits in the tournament as well.

In the game Friday, Life U led SUNO 36-32 at the half with the Running Eagles holding onto a narrow lead for most of the 20 minutes. Life U led by seven, 35-28, with a minute remaining to close out the half ahead by four.

10 minutes into the second half, Life U maintained a two-point lead, 56-54, as the lead did not extend to beyond four the remainder of the game. With under a minute on the clock, Milligan hit a key jumper in the paint to put the Running Eagles ahead by one, 75-74. Simpson and Milligan connected on their free-throws down the stretch as the Running Eagle defense did not allow a point in the final minute to secure the 78-74 victory. 

In Saturday's matchup, Life U dominated early as the Running Eagles led by double digits for a vast majority of 15 minutes in the first half. Life U led Dillard 50-32, as the Running Eagle defense continued to shine in New Orleans. 

Seven minutes into the second half, Life U maintained a convincing lead over Dillard 63-40 with a jumper from Simpson. The Running Eagles finished the tournament on a high-note as the team never led by less than eight the remainder of the game, until a buzzer-beater for two from Dillard went in for the final score of 87-81 in favor of Life U.

The Running Eagles improve to 8-3 after the successful road trip, and will return to action on Thursday, December 6, when they travel to Talladega, Ala. to face Talladega College at 8 PM.