Box Score

The Louisiana College men's basketball team opened regular season play on Thursday night with a non-conference game against American Southwest Conference for Sul Ross State University. The game, played at Ornelas Gym on the campus of East Texas Baptist University, ended in a 77-60 Sul Ross victory. The Wildcats fall to 0-1 on the season and will play their next game on November 27 at H.O. West Fieldhouse against Centenary College.
 
The night began evenly matched as the teams spent the first few minutes trying to figure out each other's game plans. The Lobos scored the first four points of the game, but the Wildcats answered with five straight, including a Jacquez Coleman three-ball to give LC the lead three minutes into the game. A D'Aaron Davis layup a few minutes later answered the Lobos score but the 7-6 Wildcats lead would be the last one they would have of the game. The Lobos made an 11-2 run to take control of the game over the next seven minutes of play to hold the 17-9 advantage.
 
The Lobos continued to stretch their lead, all the way to an 18-point lead with 5:22 left in the first half. LC would claw their way back into the game over the final 2:44 with a 9-2 run to finish the half, and if not for a missed three-pointer at the buzzer the score could have been closer than the 41-33 Sul Ross lead. The Lobos benefited from 10 offensive rebounds in the first half, leading to 12 second chance points, compared to just three offensive boards for the Wildcats.
 
Sul Ross came out with six points to start the second half to extend their lead to 14 before Devon Washington got the Cats on the board with a layup at the 17:21 mark of the half. The lead remained in double figures until a three from Coleman and a layup from Washington made the score 50-41 Sul Ross. The Lobos quickly answered the quick Wildcats run and pushed their lead back into double digits getting as high as 19 mid-way through the second half. The Wildcats played a much sharper second half in terms of turnovers and rebounding, as they finished even with the Lobos in both categories, the difference came in the 50% shooting performance by Sul Ross compared to 39% for the Cats.
 
Devon Washington and Jacquez Coleman led the way for the Wildcats with 14 points each. Rex Hollis also finished with double figures with 10 points. Point guard Timothy Stokes had six points, six rebounds, and five assists.
 
The Wildcats have 10 days until their next contest, a November 27 matchup with Centenary College. The game will be played at H.O. West Fieldhouse as the Wildcats play their final tune up before ASC action begins November 30 at Rapides Coliseum against McMurry University. Stay connected to Louisiana College men's basketball by following @LC_MBSK on Twitter. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats or like Louisiana College Athletics on Facebook.