NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Dillard defeated Philander Smith 86-75 in a men’s NAIA basketball game Thursday night, overcoming a dominant performance by the Panthers’ Raymond Reece.

Reece scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for Philander Smith. The Bleu Devils used a balanced attack, with Miles Williams scoring 16 points and Christopher Landers adding 14. Dillard shot 56% on free throws to Philander Smith’s 63% and controlled the glass with 46 total rebounds. The Panthers, who entered with an 11-3 record, could not sustain their early pace. Dillard improved to 8-7.