Box Score BOX SCORE
Belton, TX - Despite all five starters reaching double figures in scoring, the Louisiana College Wildcats dropped an 84-77 decision in overtime to a veteran Mary Hardin-Baylor squad on Thursday night in Belton, TX.
 
The Crusaders' duo of guard Jerard Graham and forward Russell Green were too much for the Wildcats down the stretch, as the two combined to score 51 points and grab 17 rebounds in the UMHB win.
 
LC found themselves in a 33-27 hole at halftime, as the Crusaders shot 42% (13-31) in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Wildcats would battle back take their first lead of the second half with 11 minutes remaining in regulation on a layup by Anthony Gaines, Jr. to put LC ahead 49-48.
 
The teams would exchange the lead four times over the final 10 minutes before UMHB's Graham drilled a back breaking three-pointer from well beyond the arc with 26 seconds left to tie the game at 70-70.
 
LC point guard Kevin Cottonham would miss a potential game-winning jump shot with one second left on the clock in regulation to push the game to overtime.
 
Cottonham and Gaines, Jr. led the charge for LC in the final 20 minutes to force overtime, as the junior duo scored 23 of the team's 43 second half points.
 
The final minutes of overtime would belong to the Crusaders, however, as they outscored the Wildcats 12-5 in the final three minutes to close the game out after the two teams were locked up in a 72-72 deadlock at the 3:09 mark.
 
Graham led UMHB with a game-high 27 points to go along with seven rebounds while Green recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
 
LC sophomore forward Steve Evans lead a group of five Wildcats who reached double figures, scoring a team-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Cottonham had 11 points and seven assists while Gaines, Jr. recorded 14 points, five rebounds, and a game-high four blocks.
 
The Wildcats (2-3, 2-1 in ASC play) will look to bounce back on Saturday, as they take on Concordia in ASC play at 3 p.m. in Austin, TX.