NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Louisiana College men's basketball team enjoyed an early first half lead and never let Northwestern State get away, but the Wildcats ultimately succumbed to the Demons in a 67-60 exhibition loss Tuesday night at Prather Coliseum.

The Wildcats jumped out fast, building up a 12-4 lead just six minutes into the contest on a jumper just inside the free throw line by KJ Bilbo that capped off a 10-0 LC run. However, a 15-2 NSU run to close out the first half propelled the Demons into the lead to stay, turning a 20-15 LC lead with 6:15 remaining into a 30-22 NSU advantage at the break.

LC battled through the second half, pulling to within just a bucket several times over the last 20 minutes. Denzel Austin's three-pointer with just over eight minutes remaining got the Wildcats within two at 46-44. But a 15-6 run by the Demons immediately followed, propelling NSU to its biggest lead of the contest at 61-50. The Wildcats got as close as five points with just 90 seconds remaining on a Louis Blakes basket, making the score 63-58 before the Demons put the game out of reach with a couple of buckets down the stretch.

Denzel Austin scored a game high 21 points on a very efficient night from the field. He hit six of his ten total shots, going five of eight from above the three-point arc and four of five from the free throw line. Kae'ron Baker hit nine of 11 from the stripe on his way to 16 points. Louis Blakes was four of nine from the field for 11 points.

The Wildcats (1-0) return home on Friday night as Rhodes College comes to Pineville. Tip-off against the Lynx is set for 6:30 P.M. at H.O. West Fieldhouse.