Box Score
PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana College men started their 2011-12 home schedule off in style Thursday night, downing Howard Payne 84-80 in American Southwest Conference action.

The Wildcats (2-1, 2-1 ASC) played a near-flawless game, committing just four turnovers on the night and keeping the Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-2 ASC) at bay throughout the evening.

Even though Howard Payne outrebounded LC 58-35, the home team shot 42 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range compared to 41 and 17 percent for HPU.

Senior wing Jarrod Jackson (Albany, La./Albany HS) scored 20 points to the led the Wildcats in scoring with three other upperclassmen reaching double figures.

Senior point guard Jelani Mitchell (St. Martinville, La./St. Martinville HS) scored 15 points and dished out nine assists while senior post Korey Salmon scored 15 points and pulled eight rebounds.

Junior wing Phillip George (Baton Rouge, La./Family Christian Academy) scored 14 points, four of which came at the free throw line in the last seconds of the game.

Howard Payne's Brandon Irwin was the offensive star of the game, scoring 32 points to go along with 10 rebounds.  Ja'Kaylan Gayden was also solid for HPU, putting up a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double.

The Wildcats, who start the season with an almost exclusively road-based schedule, will play their final home game of the calendar year this Saturday at 3 p.m. when they host Sul Ross State. The team will not return home until January after that contest.