Mike Celestin and Russell Hill scored 14 points apiece to lead Southern University to a 67-48 win over Dillard of the NAIA on Friday night.
Quinton Doggett added 13 points and a team-leading six rebounds for the Jaguars in their season-opening win. Celestin added four 3-pointers for Southern.
Dillard led 8-4 less than three minutes into the contest, but a pair of Celestin 3s helped spark a 12-1 run from that juncture and Southern never trailed again. The Jaguars led by eight points at the break and outscored the Blue Devils 36-25 in the second half to seal it.
The Jaguars won the battle of the boards just 32-31, but forced 16 turnovers and committed just five of their own in the game.
Lance Theard scored 11 points and Lawrence Etah added 10 for the Blue Devils.
