Box Score
Despite playing without star sophomore Anthony Gaines, Jr. for most of the second half, the Louisiana College men's basketball team were able to grind out a 92-86 shootout victory over ASC power Concordia on Saturday afternoon in the H.O. West Fieldhouse.
 
LC's bench, which was very young and inexperienced coming into the game, stepped up in a big way in the second half after Gaines, who had game-high 21 points at the time, fouled out with 13 minutes left in regulation.
 
Freshman Steve Evans would be the biggest spark off the bench for the Wildcats, as the Natchitoches native scored eight second half points to go along with six rebounds in the final period.
 
Sophomore point guard Kevin Cottonham, battling a bum ankle and injury trouble the majority of the second half, exploded for 16 second half points to lead the way for LC. Fellow sophomore Kevin Lewis was equally as impressive with 12 second half points in only 13 minutes.
 
Of the 12 players who stepped on the court for LC on the day, 11 were either sophomores or juniors, with the lone exception being senior Doc Welch.
 
The Tornadoes, who averaged well over 100 points per game in their first two games if the season, were bothered by a young and athletic LC defense, as they shot just 35.8% (29-81) from the field and turned the ball over 21 times against the Wildcats.
 
The Wildcats would end up with five players in double figures, as Gaines (21 points, 5 rebounds, three blocks), Cottonham (18 points, seven assists), Raheem Regis (15 points, seven rebounds), Lewis (12 points), and Steve Evans (10 points, nine rebounds) would lead the way for a youthful LC team that appears to be one of the ASC most exciting and explosive teams.
 
The Wildcats (1-1, 1-0) will take on the East Texas Baptist Tigers in a 7:30 p.m. matchup Thursday in Marshall, TX.