PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team scored 17 of the first half's last 19 points to turn a one-point deficit into a 14-point lead at the break and never looked back, ending a four-game losing streak by knocking off the Jarvis Christian Bulldogs 74-60 Thursday evening at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
In the early going, the game went back-and-forth with the Wildcats jutting out to a five-point advantage as a pair of free throws made by
Jordan Adebutu put LCU up 18-13 with 11 minutes left in the first half. Jarvis Christian rallied with an 8-2 push to reclaim the lead at 21-20 with just more than seven minutes left.
But that's the where the Wildcats started to pull away.
Kae'ron Baker hit a free throw with 6:47 to tie the game and start the 17-2, half-ending run. A
Ferontay Banks made free throw with 5:48 left before the break put the Wildcats up to stay at 22-21. The lead hit double figures for the first time with 1:13 left before halftime as, for the second time in the game, Baker was fouled attempting a three-pointer. He hit all three ensuing free throws to put LCU up 33-23, the first three points of seven-straight Wildcat points to close out the half, capped by a lay-up by
Malik Cooper which gave LCU a 37-23 lead at the break.
Out of the break, the Wildcats slowly pushed the lead out to 17 points at 44-27 with just more than 16 minutes left following a three-pointer by
KJ Bilbo. Jarvis scored the next six points to get the lead down to 11, where the lead stagnated over the next several minutes.
Caleb Howe's made free throw with 10:36 left started a six-point LCU push, capped by a three by Baker that gave the Wildcats a 17-point advantage at 54-37 with 9:30 left. LCU executed over the next few minutes to keep the Bulldogs away as the lead hit 20 points with 4:29 left following a pair of
Ferontay Banks free throws which made the score 66-46 LCU. With 3:36 left, the lead hit its peak at 21 points following a
Brayden Blakeway free throw which made it 67-46 and the Wildcats closed out the win from there.
As he's done all season,
Kae'ron Baker led the way with 23 points as he got to the free throw line 12 times and hit ten of them to add to six made field goals, one of which was from deep.
Malik Cooper picked up his second double-double of the season as he made six of his seven shot attempts for 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Jordan Adebutu filled up a respectable stat line with eight points, six rebounds, and five assists.
It was a good shooting night for the Wildcats as LCU hit over 48% in both halves, ending the game at 49% shooting in the contest. Helping into that was the defense, which turned Jarvis over 19 times in the game, 13 times with live-ball steals, which helped LCU enjoy a 24-10 advantage in points off turnovers and 10-3 advantage in fast break points.
The Wildcats (8-10, 3-4 RRAC) look to get a win streak started on Saturday when Texas College comes to town for the third game of five straight at home to close out the home portion of the schedule. Tip-off of Saturday's game against the Steers (4-5, 0-1 RRAC) is set for 4:00 P.M., or approximately 25 minutes following the end of the women's game, at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
