PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team rode its top guy as Kae'ron Baker put in a career high 41 points, the most scored in a single game by a Wildcat in at least two decades, to lead the Wildcats to a 93-79 win over the Texas College Steers Saturday evening at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
 
While there was some early lead-swapping in the opening minutes, once Malik Cooper found Ferontay Banks wide open above the arc for a three-pointer, which he hit with just more than 14 minutes left in the first half, the Wildcats were ahead to stay at 16-14. A pair of Jordan Adebutu free throws with 9:21 left in the first half gave LCU its first double-digit lead at 28-18. However, the game really didn't start to get put away until late in the first half as a Kae'ron Baker free throw with 5:23 left started a 13-2 Wildcat run, which Baker also capped with another free throw with 1:29 left, that turned an eight-point Wildcat lead into a 19-point lead at 43-24. A TC three-pointer capped the scoring in the period as LCU took a 43-27 lead into the halftime locker room.
 
A three-pointer by Baker just more than two minutes into the second half got the lead back up to 17 points, but for the majority of the second half, the Wildcats maintained the lead between ten and 15 points. Leading 58-46 with 11:41 left, Ferontay Banks was fouled and hit a pair of free throws to kick off a 12-3 run that was capped by a pair of free throws by D'Marcus Fugett and the lead went over 20 points for the first time at 70-49 with 8:35 left in the game.
 
But the thoughts of an easy final eight minutes were dispelled when the Steers went on a 14-1 run right after the Fugett free throws, cutting the LCU lead down from 21 points to just eight at 71-63 with five minutes left. But Baker ended the run as he sank a jumper from the free throw line to reestablish the double-digit lead for the Wildcats, and LCU's advantage would not fall below ten points for the remainder of the contest. That basket started a 12-4 Wildcat push that finally put the game out of reach as Jordan Adebutu found Baker cutting to the basket for an easy lay-up and an 83-67 LCU lead with less than 90 seconds left. From there, the Wildcats closed out the game, mostly at the free throw line, to secure the win.
 
"This was a good win tonight," said LCU head men's basketball coach Reni Mason. "We are still trying to fight to stay in the race. Our goal is to get better every game. I thought [Ferontay] Banks and [Malik] Cooper were bright spots tonight. Cooper had his third double-double in four games and Banks made some key shots to push our lead out. Baker is as consistent and efficient as they come. Just think of this, he got 41 points on 14 field goal attempts. He's one of the best to wear a Wildcat uniform."
 
Kae'ron Baker had a very efficient evening, taking just 14 shots, which he made ten of, to get his career record 41 points. He made five of his eight attempts from above the arc and just lived at the free throw line as he took 19 free throw attempts and made 16 of them. Baker's 41 points is the most by a Wildcat in more than two decades, overtaking a 39-point game by Kevin Cottonham at Texas-Dallas on February 5, 2015. Ferontay Banks had one of his best games at LCU, hitting five of seven shots, including three of four from deep, for a season high 19 points while also dishing out six assists. Jordan Adebutu went three of six from the field, two of four from deep, for 14 points. Malik Cooper picked up his third double-double in four games as he finished with ten points and 12 rebounds.
 
It was a consistent night for the Wildcats as LCU shot 45.8% from the field, including 47.6% from long range, but LCU took advantage of a foul-prone Steer squad as the Wildcats hit 39 of 44 attempts from the charity stripe.
 
The Wildcats (9-10, 4-4 RRAC) look to tie the longest win streak of the season on Thursday night as (RV) LSU Shreveport comes to Pineville to start the final week of home games for the season, looking to avenge a 79-74 loss to the Pilots two weeks ago. Tip-off of Thursday's game against the Pilots (14-6, 7-1 RRAC) is set for 7:30 P.M., or about 25 minutes following the women's game, at H.O. West Fieldhouse.