After set backs and delays on the resurfacing of the gym floor at H.O. West Fieldhouse, forcing the Louisiana College basketball teams to play their games at Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches and The Fort in Alexandria, the Wildcats will finally take the floor in their own gym on Thursday night in a contest with Belhaven.  The Blazers are still in the provisional stage of their transition into the American Southwest Conference so the games will not count regarding the conference standings.  Tip off for the women's game is scheduled for 5:30 pm with the men following at 7:30 pm.

Women's Matchup

Belhaven comes into the game against the Wildcats on a three game winning streak and winners of five of their last six games, for a total of eight wins on the season, matching the total from 2015-16 season. Their most recent victories include two of the teams the Wildcats faced last week, Howard Payne and Sul Ross. The Blazers have two players averaging more than 10 points per game this season, Sierra Pittman leading the way with 13.8 per game and Candler Gregory with 10.8 points per game. Pittman also leads the team in assists per game at 2.5 and 6'0" senior Vamikka Smith leads the team with 8.3 rebounds per game.  As a team Belhaven ranks ninth in the ASC in points per game at 66.5, but fourth in scoring defense, only allowing their opponents an average of 64.2 points per game. They are shooting 37.9% from the field and 71.7% from the free throw line.

Like Belhaven, the Wildcats enter the game on Thursday on a three game winning streak of their own. After a last second loss to Howard Payne, LC has won their last three in a row against Sul Ross St, ETBU, and Concordia on Monday of this week. The streak has moved the Lady Wildcats into fourth place in the ASC Eastern Division, 2.5 games behind division leader UT Dallas. Freshman Karlee Teddlie was a big part of the team's success over the last few game, scoring 10 or more points in all three games played last week, including a 22 point effort in the win over ETBU. Brooke Jones continues to lead the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding at 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and thanks to her play last week Teddlie has moved into the second spot on the scoring list at 9.8 per game. LC ranks fifth in the ASC in scoring at 69.2 points per game.

Men's Matchup

The Belhaven men enter the game at 2-10 on the season and are on a seven game losing streak with their last victory coming over Huntingdon on December 13, by a 65-62 score. Their only other win of the season came in the season opener over Millsaps, 85-76. Their two leading scorers are Brandon Pressley at 13.6 points per game and Ron Davis right behind at 13.5 per game, the only two with a double digit average on the year. Pressley is also the teams leading rebounder at 8.1 per game and Davis leads the team with 5.4 assists per game. The Blazers average 77.3 points per game and are allowing 89.2 including three games allowing more than 100 points to an opponent.

After the loss to Concordia earlier this week, the Wildcats have now dropped their last six games in a row, including five conference game, and are sill in search of their first conference victory. Despite still being winless in conference play, the Wildcats are just 2.5 games out of the fourth spot in the East. With the loss of Steve Evans and John Parker for the last two games and the injury to Palmer Hill in Monday's game, the Wildcats have relied on younger and less experienced players to lead them.  Raheem Regis continues to be the Wildcats best scoring option under the basket, the senior leads the team with a 16.8 points per game average and has scored in double figures in nine straight games and 11 of the Wildcats 12 total this season. Taylan Grogan , a freshman from Patterson, scored a career high 23 in the game against Concordia and has a four game streak of double digit scoring. Added to the list are Jacquez Coleman and Travis Schultz who have played significant minutes for the Wildcats over the last week and a half. 

Tip off for the first game on the newly painted H.O. West Fieldhouse floor is scheduled for 5:30 pm Thursday night as the LC women take on Belhaven.  The men's game will follow at 7:30 pm. At both games there will be opportunities for students to win prizes/money during the halftime competitions. Tweet #BuryBannon for a chance to play 1-on-1 against LC VP of Student Life and Enrollment Management Dr. Brandon Bannon and #BucksforBuckets for a chance to win $5 for every 3-pointer you can make in 30 seconds. Tweet @LC_Wildcats for your chances to play during the games.