Todd Ryals

Wildcats End LeTourneau's Streak at 12

2/3/2017 12:08:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

The LeTourneau Yellowjackets entered H.O. West Fieldhouse on Thursday night riding a conference best 12 game winning streak and holding the top spot in the ASC Eastern Division, in the driver's seat to host the men's postseason tournament. Thanks to double-doubles from Raheem Regis and Steve Evans and a career performance from freshman Taylan Grogan, the Yellowjackets streak ended at 12 straight win and the Wildcats hopes of making the conference tournament remained alive. The 79-72 overtime victory for LC combined with an ETBU victory over UT Tyler keeps the Wildcats 3.0 games out of the final tournament spot with four games remaining in the season.

From the very beginning of the game the strategy for Coach Reni Mason's Wildcats was to limit the offensive opportunities for the Yellowjackets. A very deliberate offensive pace and tenacious defense would be the recipe for the Wildcats Thursday night. The first 10 minutes of the game went back and forth between the two teams, including five lead changes with the Wildcats holding the 19-18 lead at the mid way point of the first half.

LC held on to the lead the rest of the way in the first half thanks to the formula from Coach Mason, going 14-for-28 on the offensive side and holding LeTourneau to 10-of-32 shooting on their end. The Wildcats also converted 4-of-9 of their shots from downtown in the first half, with Jacquez Coleman knocking down two on three attempts. A jumper with two second left by LeTourneau's Jeff Martin cut the Wildcats lead down to 35-29 at the break.

Five quick points from Taylan Grogan at the start of the second half put the Wildcats up by eleven, 90 seconds into the half, 40-29. LC held the lead until the Jackets started to heat up from downtown, at the mid way point of the half. Three 3-pointers in the span of just over a minute and a half turned an eight point Wildcat lead into a one point advantage with 9:03 left in the game. LC clung to the lead for the next four and half minutes when a foul gave the Yellowjackets the opportunity to tie the game at the free throw line. A pair of shots with 4:23 left in the game tied things at 55 and LeTourneau went up on their next possession thanks to a layup and foul for the three point play.

Grogan answered with a layup of his own 20 seconds later and a foul sent Timothy Stokes to the line with a chance put LC back on top with less than two minutes to go. Stokes made 1-of-2 from the line tying the game at 60. LeTourneau went back up on a jumper with 60 seconds left, then a missed shot from Grogan and a rebound by LeTourneau looked as if that would be the end for the Wildcats. The freshman made the first huge play of the game for the Wildcats by picking the pocket of Alec Colhoff and drawing the foul to earn two fouls shots to try and tie the game. With ice in his veins, Grogan knocked down both shots, knotting things at 62 with 34 seconds left. The Yellowjackets final shot with two seconds left came up short, sending the game to overtime.

The final 4:23 of the second half and the entire five minute overtime period belonged solely to the Wildcats freshman guard, playing the entire time with four fouls and scoring 17 points, with a staggering 13 in the overtime period. Grogan hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring in overtime and scored the first seven points for LC in the extra frame. The final two huge plays of the game came from Timothy Stokes and Steve Evans, that secured the Wildcats victory. Stokes nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner to give LC a four point lead with 1:12 to go, and Evans picked up his biggest offensive rebound of the game after a rare miss by Grogan at the free throw line. Taylan finished the night with two more free throws and a dunk to cap the exciting victory.

The new star for the Wildcats put in a career best 29 points in the game, the highest point total on the team this season. Raheem Regis picked up another double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Steve Evans, in his most playing time in a month, added a double-double of his own with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Timothy Stokes just missed a double-double of his own with nine points and 10 assists, and five rebounds.

The Wildcats hopes of making the conference tournament remain alive after the victory but with just four conference games left and a 3.0 game deficit to make up, LC will have to continue to win and get some help along the way. Saturday, the Wildcats take on UT Tyler in another majorly important game, tip off is scheduled for 3pm at H.O. West Fieldhouse. LC will now cheer for LeTourneau to pick up a win over ETBU, the team ahead of the LC in the standings, to give the Wildcats a chance to make up some ground on the Tigers before Monday's showdown.

Print Friendly Version