Todd Ryals

Miracle Run Ends in 70-56 Loss to Comets

2/9/2017 11:22:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

After three dramatic wins in a row over three of the top four teams in the division, the Louisiana College Wildcats basketball team's run at a potential tournament spot ended Thursday night in a 70-56 loss to the University of Texas at Dallas Comets. The Wilcats loss combined with East Texas Baptist's win over the University of the Ozarks, Thursday night, eliminated the Wildcats from a potential fourth seed in the tournament.

A single free throw less than a minute into the game, gave the Comets the 1-0 lead, but LC ran off five straight points to go up 6-1 three and a half minutes into the game. After LC went up by the five point margin, the Comets went on a 17-7run through the mid way point of the first half and had an 18-13 lead with 10:42 left in the half.

LC got back within three thanks to a pair of free throws from Taylan Grogan, but UTD would go on another run to push their lead into double figures. This time the strech was 14-2 in favor of the Comets, giving them a 32-17 lead at the 3:12 mark of the first half. Dallas would go into the half with a 41-23 lead, thanks to three 3-point shots in the final 2:40 of the half.

With 1:06 remaining in the first half, senior forward Raheem Regis converted on a free throw which was the 1,000th point in his Wildcat career. Regis finished with 18 points in the game, and just missed another double-double again with nine rebounds.

Down by 18 at the half, the Wildcats came hot in the second half and worked their way back into the game. LC started the half on a 15-5 run on the backs of Regis and Taylan Grogan, who scored 12 of the Wildcats 15 points during the run. The Wilcats continued to inch their way closer to the Comets, getting within a touchdown on a couple different occasions, but UTD would keep making shots to keep LC from making it all the way back.

An 8-0 with 3:16 left in the game all but sealed the victory for the Comets and in turn eliminated the Wildcats from tournament contention. The Wildcats were out rebounded 44-28 in the game, and seemingly couldn't buy a layup through a lot of the game.

Taylan Grogan and Raheem Regis combined to score 45 of the Wildcats 56 points in the game. Grogan went for 27 points in the game, his third 20 plus point game in the last four outings, leading all scorers. Regis finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, and joined the thousand point club in the process.

The loss combined with ETBU's win over Ozarks, eliminated the Wildcats from tournament contention, after a trip to the conference championship game last season. LC still has one conference game remaining, Saturday with a 3 p.m. tip off after the conclusion of the women's game. The Wildcats will celebrate their senior class between games Saturday afternoon. Follow @LC_MBSK on Twitter for the latest on LC men's basketball.

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