Men's Basketball 2/20/2019 4:30:00 PM Brandon Murphy

PREVIEW: MBB Returns to ASC Tourney

Men's Basketball 2/20/2019 4:30:00 PM Brandon Murphy

PREVIEW: MBB Returns to ASC Tourney

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The Louisiana College Wildcats men's basketball team will begin their American Southwest Conference tournament against a team that bested them in their only meeting this season. The men will be taking on Concordia University (Texas) to begin their conference tournament opener at 5 P.M. at the UTD Athletic Complex in Richardson, Texas on the campus of the University of Texas at Dallas.

The Wildcats enter the postseason for the first time in three seasons after compiling a record of 19-6 and an impressive conference record of 11-5. Concordia sits at a 12-13 overall record and a 10-6 conference record. It was the Tornado that snapped the Wildcats school-record 10-game winning streak in early January at H.O. West Fieldhouse 65-53, a game where the Wildcats turned the ball over 23 times, the most in a game this season.

The men have seen success this season due to the absolutely stacked roster that the Cats have. Senior center Devon Washington comes in averaging 16.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He has had an endless amount of help, but he will most certainly be looking at junior guard Jaylen Rhone and sophomore Kae'ron Baker. Rhone comes in averaging 11.0 points, 2.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game followed by the impressive performance Baker who is averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game.

The first round matchup is an interesting one, perhaps the most interesting of the first day of the tournament, as one of the best offenses (Concordia) goes up against one of the best defenses (LC). The Tornado are second in the ASC in scoring at 90.2 points per game while the Cats are second in scoring defense, only allowing 73.6 per game. Something will have to give but the Wildcats have hung their hats on tough aggressive defense all year and that will be no different when the game tips off on Thursday night.

Regardless of the outcome of Thursday's game the Wildcats have already cemented this year as one of the best in the NCAA era. However, a win on Thursday would give LC their first 20-win season since Louisiana College joined the NCAA in 2000, on top of moving them one step closer to the prize of a conference championship and birth into the NCAA Tournament.

The game will take place this Thursday at 5:00 P.M. on February 21, 2019 at the UTD Athletic Complex. 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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Players Mentioned

#52 Devon Washington: F; 6' 9"; Junior

#10 Jaylen Rhone: PG; 5' 11"; Junior

#5 Kae'ron Baker: SG; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#52 Devon Washington
: 6' 9"; Junior
: F

#10 Jaylen Rhone
: 5' 11"; Junior
: PG

#5 Kae'ron Baker
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: SG

Players Mentioned

#52 Devon Washington

#10 Jaylen Rhone

#5 Kae'ron Baker

Players Mentioned

#52 Devon Washington

#10 Jaylen Rhone

#5 Kae'ron Baker