Todd Ryals

Wildcats Suffer Another Tough Loss

1/5/2018 12:21:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

After a dominating win in their last game of 2017, the Louisiana College men's basketball team made the return trip to Belton, Texas on Thursday to take on American Southwest Conference for, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Wildcats could not hold off the Cru late in the second half as UMHB, falling 91-85. LC travels to Concordia University for a 4 p.m. tip-off Saturday afternoon against the Tornado.

The Wildcats came out strong in the first half against the Cru, riding the momentum from their previous outing against Millsaps. Junior transfer Devon Washington had a monster first half for the Wildcats, exhibiting his size and presence underneath the basket. Washington scored 17 first half points while playing all but two of the first 20 minutes of the game. As a team the Cats shot an impressive 55.9 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from behind the arc.

Even with the presence underneath of Washington and the stellar shooting, the Cru played shot-for-shot with the Wildcats through the entire half. Washington scored his 16^th and 17^th points of the first half on a jumper with 22 seconds left to make the score 47-46 in the Cru's favor at the end of the first 20 minutes.

As impressive as the shooting performance was in the fist half, the same could not be said for the Cats in the second half. The 55.9 percent fell to 39.4 for the second while the Cru made a late push to steal the win from the Wildcats. A pair of free throws from Taylan Grogan at the 6:37 mark of the half put the Wildcats ahead 76-71, seven straight points by UMHB gave them the lead, and an overall 13-1 run gave them a seven point lead with 3:53 remaining in the game.

Grogan got the Wildcats back within a single shot on a fast break layup following a steal with under two minutes to go, but solid shooting by the Cru over the final minute kept the Wildcats winless in conference play.

Devon Washingon continued his dominant play in the second half, pulling in 13 rebounds in the second half alone in route to a 26 point, 16 rebound night, his third double-double of the season. Taylan Grogan and Lashard Powell also finished in double digits in the game with 17 and 13 points respectively. Point guard Timothy Stokes dished out 12 assists along with seven points, and six rebounds.

The Wildcats take on Concordia Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., the second of four straight ASC road games to start the 2018 portion of their schedule. 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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