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With some of the program's most legendary players in attendance to dedicate the newly refurbished gym floor in the H.O. West Fieldhouse, the Louisiana College men's basketball team grinded their way to a tough 85-76 win over the LeTourneau Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon in Pineville.

The Yellow Jackets, who played inspired all day, took an early advantage when Sam Talbert's three-pointer gave LeTourneau a 9-6 lead three minutes into the game.

But LC would come back quickly to take a 12-9 lead on back-to-back layups by Steve Evans and Anthony Gaines, Jr. followed by a thunderous dunk by Gaines, Jr. after he stole the ball from LeTourneau's Jared Hunter near midcourt before his momentum changing slam.

The two teams would go back-and-forth the rest of the first half, exchanging the lead five times with four ties, as the Wildcats would go into the locker room with a 33-30 lead.

After a three-pointer from C.J. Edwards put LeTourneau down by just one at 36-35, the Wildcats would go on a 22-9 run over the next  seven minutes to seemingly take all the momentum in their favor.

The run was started with a long three-pointer from junior guard Kevin Cottonham and highlighted by back-to-back put back dunks from Kevin Lewis and Gaines, Jr. that brought the crowd of 2,137 to their feet.

That run put the Wildcats up by 15 points at 59-44 at the 10:58 mark of the second half, but a constant barrage of three-pointers kept the Jackets in the game, as LeTourneau went 10-19 (52.6%) from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes.

But LC was able to keep the visitors at bay with their ability to get to the free-throw line, as they 23 of their 35 shots at the charity stripe compared to the Jackets, who did not make a free throw the entire afternoon, going 0-3 at the line.

Gaines, Jr. led LC with 25 points and eight rebounds while Lewis scored 21 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. 

With East Texas Baptist (13-4 overall, 8-4 in ASC) idle on Saturday and Mary Hardin-Baylor taking down Howard Payne 97-85, the Wildcats are now tied for third with ETBU in the ASC standings, with a 8-4 ASC mark and 8-7 record overall.

The Wildcats will take on Concordia University on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the H.O. West Fieldhouse.