Wildcats Suffer Another Tough One

1/20/2018 8:02:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

Saturday ended with another heartbreaking defeat for the Louisiana College men's basketball team as they fell just short 78-77 to LeTourneau University. The Wildcats stormed back from a 16-point, second half deficit with only to fall just short in the final seconds of the game. The Wildcats travel to Belhaven University for their first meeting with the Blazers this season on Monday night.

From the beginning stages of the game it appeared as if LeTourneau would continue their hot shooting from Thursday's record setting 75 percent mark. The Jackets jumped out to a 13-2 lead on the Wildcats in just four minutes of game time. The double-digit lead held through the majority of the first half. LC was able to climb back within six on a couple different occasions but each time LETU had an answer.

The Jackets shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, just six points higher than the Wildcats but with more chances at the rim than LC had. LeTourneau held a 41-28 lead at the halftime break.

The double-digit advantage held for the Jackets through the first six and a half minutes of the second half until a 3-pointer from Jaquez Coleman ignited the Wildcats on both ends of the floor. The Wildcats went on a 16-5 run to find themselves even with LETU at 61 with 7:56 left in the game. Travis Schultz made back-to-back long balls during the run and Lashard Powell capped things with an old-fashioned three-point play that tied things.

A key 6-0 stretch by the Jackets that immediately followed the Wildcats comeback bid put just enough distance between the two teams that LC could not overcome. The two teams traded baskets or traded misses the rest of the way, with the Wildcat not able to capitalize on the LETU missed shots that would have cut things to one possession. A key rebound by Taylan Grogan with 34 seconds left gave the Wildcats a chance to get closer than four, but two misses on one possession all but ended the complete comeback for the Cats.

Freshman Lashard Powell had another big night for the Wildcats with 20 points, his third such performance of the season. Devon Washington turned in yet another double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds on a perfect 7-for-7 effort from the field. Jaquez Coleman also finished with double digits at 11 points including a 3-for-4 effort from distance.

The Wildcats take on Belhaven Monday night in Jackson, Miss. Before heading to UT Dallas next Saturday and their final road game of the season. Stay connected to Louisiana College men's basketball 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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