NEW ORLEANS, La. – Relying on two of its senior leaders, the Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team fought through a big second half rally by (RV) Xavier as the Wildcats held off the Gold Rush for an 87-77 win Monday night at Xavier's Convocation Center.
 
The two teams jockeyed for position early in the contest until a lay-up by Jordan Adebutu put the Wildcats up 15-13 with just less than 13 minutes left in the first half. Following a steal by Ferontay Banks, KJ Bilbo got free for a lay-up to put LCU up 17-13 and the Wildcats would hold that lead for the rest of the half. The lead hit its peak shortly before the half when Adebutu split a pair of free throws to put the Wildcats up 39-30. The Gold Rush split a pair of free throws to make the score 39-31 LCU at halftime.
 
LCU opened the second half strong, going on a 13-7 run to take their largest lead of the contest as another bucket by Bilbo gave the Wildcats a 52-38 lead with 15:30 left in the contest. But Xavier made the comeback, going on a 20-6 run to tie the score at 58-58 with 9:30 left in the game. On LCU's ensuing possession, Malik Cooper was fouled as he shot a base line jumper and converted both free throw attempts to put the Wildcats up for good. A Kae'ron Baker jumper put LCU up 63-58 with less than eight minutes left in the contest. 
 
Xavier kept the game close, pulling the score to within 63-62 before a Malik Cooper jumper pushed the advantage back out to three points while also starting a 14-4 Wildcat run that was capped by a free throw by Ferontay Banks that got LCU's lead back to 77-66 with three minutes left in the contest. The Gold Rush cut the lead down to six twice over the final few minutes, but the victory was assured as LCU beat the Xavier full court press and Kae'ron Baker found KJ Bilbo all alone under the basket for an easy lay-up with less than 30 seconds left that put the Wildcats up 8.
 
Kae'ron Baker, who took over as the NAIA's leading scorer over the past weekend, led all scorers with 28 points on eight-of-15 shooting, including two made three-pointers, and went ten-of-12 at the free throw line while also dishing out eight assists, grabbing five rebounds, and collecting three steals. KJ Bilbo picked a good night to have his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 25 points on ten-of-16 shooting, including four made three-pointers, and a game-high nine rebounds. Malik Cooper also helped LCU hold the inside as he was six-of-ten from the field and finished with 14 points.
 
LCU shot 50% from the field and hit eight made threes as a team on 42.1% shooting from above the arc. The LCU defense held Xavier to 38.2% from the field in the first half, which was vital while also turning the Gold Rush over 20 times, seven more turnovers than the Wildcats committed in the game.
 
The Wildcats (12-12, 7-6 RRAC) look to go four-for-four on the road trip on Thursday night in Dallas against Paul Quinn. Tip-off of Thursday's game against the Tigers (21-1, 10-1 RRAC) is set for 7:30 P.M., or approximately 25 minutes following the end of the women's game, at PQC's Tiger's Den.