Men Look to Get Back on Track

11/29/2017 3:14:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

After two tough losses to begin the year, the Louisiana College men's basketball team return to the floor on Thursday night for a weekend set in the American Southwest Conference. The Wildcats are 0-2 on the season after letting games against Sul Ross State and Centenary College slip away from them late in the second half. Not only will this weekend be the first conference games of the season for LC, they will also serve as the first time the Wildcats will play on their new home away from home, the Rapides Parish Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 7:30 pm on Thursday night, following the conclusion of the women's game, and 4:00 pm on Saturday afternoon.

McMurry | 0-2 (0-0)

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The War Hawks began their season last week with games on Friday on Saturday against Schreiner University and Texas Lutheran University. McMurry lost both games and enter their first official ASC game of the season with an 0-2 record. In the nine-point loss to Schreiner and the four-point loss to TLU the War Hawks averaged 68.0 points and shot 43.5% from the floor in those two games. The top scorer for the War Hawks is senior forward LaRandall Scroggins, who put it 13 and 14 points respectively in the War Hawks two contests thus far. The 6-5, 200 pounder is also the teams leader in rebounds with 13 total and 6.5 per game. Junior guard Shakur Smtih is the only other player with a double digit point average through two games. Scroggins finished second on the team in 2016 in points with a 12.7 per game average, and ASC West Division honorable mention last year.

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Hardin-Simmons | 0-3 (0-0)

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Like McMurry, Hardin-Simmons also enters the ASC opening weekend winless on the season, dropping their first three games to Southwester, Texas Lutheran, and Schreiner. Each contest was a typical high-scoring affair as the Cowboys scored more than 70 points in each game, despite the three losses. They are averaging 78.3 points per game early in the season with a 39.3% shooting effort. They also rank in the middle of pack in the ASC standing in free throw and 3-point shooting percentage under first-year head coach Matt Brackett. The two-time defending ASC tournament champions lost the conference player of the year in Nathaniel Jack to graduation but are led by the talented guard duo of senior Caleb Spoon and junior Joe Hoeup. Spoon is averaging 19.7 points per game, fifth most in the conference, and Hoeup clocks in just behind him at 18.7 per, eight most in the ASC.

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Louisiana College | 0-2 (0-0)

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In the two games the Wildcats have lost this season, the game was ultimately decided late in the second half. Against Sul Ross, the first half ended in an eight-point game and against Centenary just a three-point lead for the Gents at the break. It was late runs by the Lobos and Gents that put the game away, taking advantage of LC mistakes with the basketball, especially in the Centenary game where the Wildcats turned the ball over a total of 23 times. Through just two games, LC has three players in double figures on the season, led by junior transfer Devon Washington with 13.5 point per game. Jacquez Coleman checks in at 11.0 and freshman Rex Hollis with an even 10.0. As a team the Wildcats have shot well from the free throw line and beyond the arc, making 12 of their 28 attempts on the season from distance, the best percentage in the ASC. They have the second best free throw percentage on the early season with a 76.3% mark.

The first Louisiana College basketball game in Rapides Parish Coliseum is scheduled to tip-off at 5:30 pm Thursday night as the Lady Wildcats open ASC play against McMurry. The men will take the floor for their first game immediately following the women. Tickets are $10 for those two years and older and LC students, faculty, and staff will be admitted for free with their campus ID. Louisiana College athletics will be providing a shuttle bus for students that will leave from the parking lot between MPAC and H.O. West, 30 minutes prior to tip-off of the women's game all season. Seating is limited and students are encouraged to sign-up in the student development office to secure their spot on the shuttle. Stay connected to Louisiana College men's basketball all season by following @LC_MBSK on Twitter. For general athletics news, follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Wildcats on Facebook.

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