Louisiana Christian University Athletics

Wildcats Drop Conference Opener to War Hawks

12/1/2016 9:58:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

The Louisiana College Wildcats could not overcome some clutch second half shooting by McMurry in Thursday's American Southwest Conference opener and fell to the War Hawks 63-51 in Abeline.

From the very beginning of the game, the Wildcats were plagued with foul trouble. LC was called for seven fouls in the first six minutes of the half, which put a good shooting McMurry team on the free throw line early and often. The War Hawks didn't have a single basket from the floor until seven minutes in the game but still only trailed by two points at 7-5. By the end of the first half McMurry took a total of 10 shots from the charity stripe, knocking down nine of them.

The Wildcats took their only lead of the first half on a three point shot by senior Steve Evans, to give LC a 10-9 lead mid way through the half. Over the next 8:16 of the half the War Hawks would start to pull away, going on a 20-7 run to take a 29-17 lead. The Wildcats would score six of the final eight points of the half, including a pair of layups from Kevin Cottonham but McMurry would maintain a 32-23 lead at the break.

LC would come out strong to start the second half, erasing the nine-point deficit quickly and pulling within three of the War Hawks just four minutes into the second half. The Wildcats would continue to hang around and eventually tie the game at 42 after two free throws from Cottonham, but three straight three pointers by the War Hawks put the home team up just as quickly as LC had tied the game.

Just as they did in the first half, the War Hawks matched their play in the second half after the Wildcats tied the game. McMurry scored 19 points over a stretch of seven and a half minutes compared to just seven from the Wildcats.

LC out rebounded McMurry 39-32 and only made two fewer shots than the War Hawks, but the difference was found in three more three pointers and five more made free throws for McMurry.

The Wildcats had one player score in double figures; Kevin Cottonham had 10 points on the night along with five assists. Steve Evans and John Parker finished with nine and eight points each for the Wildcats.

LC will take on defending ASC champion Hardin-Simmons Saturday in Abeline with a 3:00 pm tip. The Cowboys gave ETBU their first loss of the year on Thursday 84-78.

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