After a pair of exhibition contests against in-state opponents UL-Lafayette and McNeese State, the Louisiana College Wildcats opened their season with an 85-74 loss on the road to the Centenary Gents on Saturday afternoon in Shreveport.
 
Despite the Wildcats' star sophomore duo of Anthony Gaines, Jr. (24 points, 12 rebounds) and Kevin Cottonham (20 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) both having great afternoons, the Wildcats were unable to hold off a determined effort by the Gents' bench.
 
While Centenary guard Jonathan Blount tied Gaines with a game-high 24 points, it was the Gents' bench that made the difference, as Brooks Pawsat (8 points, 4 rebounds), Isaiah Whitaker (7 points), James Sapp (7 points), and Justin Cueto (6 points) led a charge that outscored LC's bench 28-11.
 
Centenary also outrebounded the Wildcats' by a 45-28 margin, which led to a 19-7 advantage for the Gents' in second chance points.
 
LC also got off to a slow start in the first half, as a 7-31 (23%) shooting performance from the field in the first 20 minutes allowed the Gents' to jump out to a 41-28 lead at the half.
 
The Wildcats (0-1) will not play again until their ASC opener against Concordia on November 30^th at home. That game will be played at 3:00 PM in the H.O. West Fieldhouse on LC's campus.