Box Score
PINEVILLE, La. - For the first time this season, the Louisiana College men's basketball team faced a fellow NCAA Division III squad and, after an 84-79 win over Schreiner in the American Southwest Conference opener, it appears that the Wildcats' early-season run against four Division school's was, at least initially, a wise move.

In what turned out to be LC men's basketball coach Gene Rushing's 292nd career coaching win, the Wildcats (2-2, 1-0 ASC) jumped out to an early, nine-point lead but allowed Schreiner to overtake them and carry a 38-34 advantage into the break.

LC would outscore Schreiner 50-41 in the second half, though, and secure the win late thanks to timely jumpshooting and free-throw shooting from senior post Chukwuma Ekeh (Alexandria, La./Holy Savior Menard) and junior wing Jarrod Jackson (Albany, La./Albany HS).

Jackson, who finished with a game-high 25, was 7-for-19 from the field but was a perfect 9-for-9 at the line in a game in which he never left the floor.

Jackon also provided five rebounds and a pair of assists in the win.

The 6-foot-6 Ekeh dominated the low post much of the night and went 7-for-11 on field goals but it was his 6-for-10 performance at the free-throw line that helped the Wildcats rebound from an 80-46 rout at the University of New Orleans the day before Thanksgiving.

Ekeh, who finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, hit his last four free throws, all with under two minutes to play to ice the victory.

Junior point guard JeLani Mitchell (St. Martinville, La./St. Martinville HS) was almost as strong at the charity stripe, going 5-for-6 at the free-throw line, including putting in the Wildcats' 83rd and 84th points, en route to a nine-point, three-assist game.

Also helping the LC cause was sophomore wing Phillip George (Baton Rouge/Family Christian Academy) who scored 11 points and pulled down five boards before leaving the game with an injury midway through the second half.

Junior post Korey Salmon (Deville, La./Buckeye HS) provided nine points and 11 rebounds for LC, his best showing of the year.

Freshman point guard Darren Smith was Schreiner's top scorer, putting up 24 on the night, with Riley Battle scoring 14, Mike Huddleston 13 and Charles Hobbs 10 as the visiting team fell to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in ASC play.

LC will get very little time to savor the victory as the Wildcats return to action Monday night at 7:30 p.m. with a home conference showdown with Texas Lutheran.