Todd Ryals

Career Games get Wildcats Second Straight Win

1/19/2017 11:05:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

The Louisiana College men got their first ASC conference win of the season on Thursday evening in a 110-106 shootout with the University of the Ozarks. Five different players turned in double digit scoring efforts for the Wildcats, including four career high performances.

With no John Parker or Steve Evans available for the Wildcats Thursday night going up against two of the ASC's top three scorers, LC had to find offense from anyone and everyone to take down Ozarks. The Wildcats trailed through the first seven minutes of the game but never by more two shots. Down 16-13 with 14:43 to go in the half, the Wildcats stormed ahead on a 12-3 run over the next five minutes of play.

After trailing the first seven minutes of the game, LC led the Eagles for the final 13 minutes of the half. Ozarks pulled to within two at the 6:35 mark on an old fashioned three-point play, but the Wildcats responded with a quick 8-0 run capped off with a pair of free throws from Taylan Grogan to stretch the Wildcats lead back to 10 points at 40-30.

Ahead 45-38 with less than three minutes remaining the game turned into a 3-point contest between the two teams. LC and Ozarks combined to go 6-for-7 from long range over the final 2:24 of the half, with the Eagles going 4-for-4 on four straight shots. Two free throws from Lejawon LeBlanc with 13 seconds left gave the Wildcats a 55-50 lead at the break, and putting a pause on the shooting contest.

Ozarks didn't cool off from long range during the intermission as they came out making 4-of-5 shots from downtown to start the second half. The Eagles started the half on a 19-9 run to regain the lead they lost in the first half, just four minutes into the second half.

Down by nine at the midway point of the second half, LC started to climb their way back to towards the lead. The Wildcats would dominate the next eight minutes of play, scoring 23 of the games next 27 points to take a 97-87 lead with 2:32 left in the game. During that stretch Jacquez Coleman knocked down three 3-point shots and five other players contributed with at least one basket.

With a 10-point lead and 2:32 left the game was not decided yet as Ozarks doubled up the Wildcats over the next two minutes thanks to six made free throws and 4-of-5 shooting from the field with two successful 3-pointers, making the score 104-101 LC with 30 seconds left. After missing two free throws on the other end that would have made it a two-possession game again a crucial steal from Mike Davis gave the ball back to the Wildcats and send Taylan Grogan back to the line for two more foul shots. Grogan and Raheem Regis went 6-for-6 from the line over the last 14 seconds to secure the Wildcat first conference win of the season.

Senior, Raheem Regis led the Wildcats with 27 points and 10 rebounds, his fifth 20-point game and fourth double-double of the season. Taylan Grogan tied a career high with 23 points, his second 20-point game in the last three games. Jacquez Coleman, Travis Schultz, and Lejawon LeBlanc each had 16 points in the game which were also career highs for them. The Wildcats shot 57.6% from the field in the game and a season best 78.9% from the charity stripe.

The Wildcats will travel to Richardson, TX for their next game Saturday afternoon against the UT Dallas Comets. A win on Saturday would move LC into a proverbial tie for the final spot in the ASC tournament form the East Division with the Comets. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 pm following the conclusion of the women's game. Links for live video and stats are available at lcwildcats.net or by following @LC_MBSK on Twitter.

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