Standout performances from Concordia's Nick Haynes and Dwayne Patterson were too much down the stretch for Louisiana College on Saturday night, as they fought valiantly, but fell just short of the Tornadoes, dropping the ASC home opener by a final score of 85-81.
 
After holding a 5-point lead, 41-35, at halftime, and holding a lead for much of the second half, the Wildcats were unable to provide the finishing punch to close out the Tornadoes, who many consider a serious threat to claim the ASC Western Division title.
 
Haynes and Patterson are big reasons for that, as both scored 26 points in Saturday's ASC contest.
 
The Wildcats had one of their most balanced attacks all season, as five players scored in double digits, led by senior Romanaski Williams, who scored 12 points on a near perfect 6-7 shooting performance.
 
Seniors Shaun Johnson (11 points, 5 rebounds) and Phillip George (10 points, 7 assists), along with freshmen Kevin Cottonham (10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) and Anthony Gaines, Jr . (11 points, 3 steals) were also in double figure scoring for LC.
 
Gaines' thunderous dunk on a fast break in the first half off of a steal near mid court seem to be a starting point for an impressive Wildcat run that lasted for the next 15-20 minutes of action.
 
Despite the loss, LC's 34-66 (51.5%) shooting performance certainly provides a sense of comfort going into the gauntlet stretch of conference games that begins in January.
 
Now 1-4 on the year (1-2 in ASC play), the Wildcats will take on the preseason favorite to win the ASC West in Mary Hardin-Baylor. That game will take place in H.O. West Fieldhouse on Monday December 10^th beginning at 7:30 p.m.