PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball program finally got the ball to bounce their way and have the tides turn in their favor for once during a rough stretch of the season, taking down Our Lady of the Lake University in a fairly convincing 76-65 victory.
 
The Basics: 
  

• Score
  • Louisiana Christian – 76
  • Our Lady of the Lake – 65

 

• Records
  • Louisiana Christian (4-12, 2-8 Red River)
  • Our Lady of the Lake (7-10, 4-7 Red River)

 

• Location
  • Pineville, Louisiana – H.O. West Fieldhouse

  

• Series History (Since 2007-08)
  • Louisiana Christian Leads 3-1 (75%)

 

• Winning Streak (Since 2007-08)
  • Louisiana Christian (W2) | Our Lady of the Lake's Last Win: December 17, 2022 (84-82)

 
Wildcats Top Performers: 
 

• Jude Akabueze might not wear glasses, but he has been seeing double-double(s) lately, laying the boom with a contest-best 26 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks (season-high) with an 80% (12-for-15) success rate on his shots as he racked up his sixth double-double to give him 15 now at Louisiana Christian.

 

• D'Marcus Fugett logged a career and team-most five assists on the day on top of six points, four boards, and a pair of steals.

 

• Gary Smith met his career benchmark for steals at four against the visitors, putting 15 points on the scoreboard with three hits from long range.

 

• All-in-all, four Wildcats reached double-figures as Omarion Layssard joined Akabueze and Smith by going 5-of-9 (55.6%) for 12 points and a season-best five rebounds while Drew Tebbe received an even ten on 3-for-4 (75%) along with a trio of dimes.

 
Notes:
 

• Heading into Saturday's showdown, Coach Mason and his warriors lost seven in-a-row with their last win coming on December 14 against Paul Quinn, coming painfully close numerous times with only one defeat during that span being more than seven points.

 

• The triumph over OLLU was by far its biggest margin of victory in 2023-24 with the other two wins being by a combined 11 points while this one matched that output.

 

• It was a perfect storm for the Orange and Blue, setting season-highs for field goals made (32), offensive rebounds (15), blocks (5) plus a season-low 14 fouls committed on offense while holding the Saints to a season-low for points (65) and field goal percentage (37.9%) as well as forcing 21 turnovers.

 
Next:
  

• LCU will look to play the "Devil's Advocate" as the Saints from Our Lady of the Lake come marching into town on Saturday for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

 
Follow the men's basketball program on Twitter/X (@LCU_MBSK) and Instagram (@LCU.MBB).
 
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