MARSHALL, Texas – With the Louisiana College men's basketball team's season on the brink of ending, senior Denzel Austin took in a pass, turned on his East Texas Baptist defender and got to the rim for a lay-up while being fouled, and hit the free throw with three seconds left to punch the Wildcats' ticket to the postseason with a 78-77 win over the Tigers Saturday afternoon at Ornelas Gymnasium.
 
East Texas Baptist jumped out to an early seven point lead before the Wildcats roared back to turn that score around and take their own seven point lead with less than 6:30 remaining before halftime on a three-point make by KJ Bilbo that made the score 26-19, capping a 24-10 LC run. After an exchange of buckets, it was the Tigers who closed the half strong with a 12-2 push to give ETBU a 33-30 lead at the break.
 
With both teams jockeying for position for the first portion of the second half, it was the Wildcats who appeared to finally break free heading into the game's closing moments. Trailing 51-48, another three by Bilbo kicked off a 22-9 LC run to give the Wildcats the first double-digit lead for either team as Denzel Austin drained a three-pointer of his own with five minutes left in the game to make it 70-60 LC.
 
But the double-digit lead was only the setup for the late game dramatics. ETBU went on a 16-4 run to reclaim the lead at 76-74 with a minute left in the game. After both teams made a free throw to make it 77-75 ETBU, a missed free throw with 11 seconds left was rebounded by KJ Bilbo to set up Austin's heroics as his lay-up with three seconds left while being fouled tied the game and the ensuing free throw gave the Wildcats the point needed for the win.
 
"The ball finally bounced our way," said Louisiana College men's basketball coach Reni Mason. "After dropping two at the buzzer and two after leading in the last two minutes over the last three weeks, our kids were rewarded for staying the course. I am so happy for a group of guys that could have easily folded the tent. There is something to be said for resiliency."
 
Sr. G Denzel Austin made sure his collegiate career continued into the postseason, going nine of 14 from the field, including three three-pointers, to finish with 24 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and was credited with two steals. Jr. G Kae'ron Baker got back into his high-efficiency ways by going seven of 12 from the field, including two threes, and made all seven free throws he attempted for 23 points and seven rebounds. So. F KJ Bilbo was five of seven, including three of four from deep, for 16 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds. When it was needed most, the LC offense came back to life, hitting 53.1% from the field in the contest, including 40.0% as a team from above the arc, and 81.8% from the free throw line, hitting 18 of 22 from the charity stripe.
 
The win by Louisiana College, combined with LeTourneau's win over Belhaven, clinched the Wildcats a berth into the 2020 American Southwest Conference Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. The Wildcats (13-12, 7-9 ASC) will enter the tournament as the four-seed from the ASC East and will take on the ASC West Division Champion and this season's tournament host Sul Ross State in the quarterfinal round. LC and SRSU opened ASC play against each other in Alpine, Texas back on January 2^nd, an 85-64 Sul Ross win. Tip-off of Thursday's quarterfinal game against the Lobos (16-9, 13-3 ASC) is set for 7:30 P.M. at the Gallego Center.