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ALEXANDRIA, La. - It was billed as an historic meeting between the NCAA Division III Louisiana College Wildcats and the newcomers to NAIA, the LSU of Alexandria Generals Monday night at "The Fort," and the game did not disappoint those who came to see a great matchup.
 
Despite being clearly outsized, the Wildcats used their speed advantage to hang tough with the Generals, but eventually fell to LSUA 81-76 before an enthusiastic crowd and a packed gymnasium.
 
"It was good for the community from the standpoint of the interest was generated," said LC head coach Gene Rushing. "Maybe, it will grow to a year-in and year-out contest."
 
If so, fans can expect to see spirited games like the one Monday. The Wildcats jumped out to a quick lead, 9-4, on Dillon Mandeville's rebound basket a few minutes into the game. But, the Generals used a 14-2 run to take a commanding lead midway through the first half. Dustin Adams' layup off an assist from DeAngelo Coleman gave LSUA the 18-11 lead.
 
The Wildcats struggled to make shots in the first half, finishing just 11 of 32 (34-percent), but still closed strong. A slam dunk by Anthony Gaines off an assist from Kevin Lewis had LC within five, 35-30 at the break.
 
"I was hoping we'd shoot a little better, and that we would execute better offensively," Rushing said. "We know we have to keep working through it and working toward the next game."
 
Despite those first half struggles, the Wildcats quickly tied the game early in the second half. Consecutive baskets from Gaines, Steve Evans and Kevin Cottonham saw LC even the score at 36-36.
 
But, every time LC got close, LSUA responded with their own run. Darryl Milburn, who finished as the General's leading scorer with 17, put his team up by 11 with a rebound basket to make the score 48-37, LSUA, with 15:06 to play.
 
The Cats clawed their way closer again – Darion Harleaux's 3-pointer with 12:15 to go cut the lead to three, 51-48. Meanwhile, Cottonham shook off a very quiet first half in which he only scored two points on two free throws by heating up for 18 second-half points. He and Gaines tied for team high at 20, while Lewis finished with 14 and Evans with 10.
 
Despite their best efforts, however, the Wildcats were never able to edge closer than that tree-point difference down the stretch, as the Generals hung on to win by five. With the loss, the Wildcats fell to 1-1 on the season with their next game set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Longview, Texas against LeTourneau.