PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team led by as much as 13 points in the first half, but Tougaloo found its rhythm and didn't stop hitting as the Wildcats dropped their season home-opener to the Bulldogs, 82-77, Tuesday night at Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
 
Trailing 7-4 in the opening moments, a lay-up by Chad Jones sent Louisiana Christian (1-2) on a 24-8 run to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the game at 28-15 as Tomario Thomas, Jr. split a pair of free throws with 9:17 left before halftime.
 
LCU held that lead for the next few possessions as Bryce Weinmunson got to the rim for a lay-up, making it 32-19 Wildcats with eight minutes left in the first half.
 
But that's where Tougaloo (1-3) started to find its rhythm as the Bulldogs went on a 21-3 run to take a 40-35 lead with less than a minute left in the period. Weinmunson got to the rim for another lay-up to close out the half's scoring, giving LCU a little momentum heading into the locker room, trailing 40-37.
 
Corey Lombard, Jr. opened the second half scoring with a lay-up, getting the Wildcats back within a point at 40-39. Tougaloo pushed its lead back to five before a pair of Weinmunson jumpers made it a one-point game again at 46-45 with 16:30 left in the game.
 
But Tougaloo opened a gap again, going on a 10-2 run to expand the lead out to nine points, 56-47 with 12:10 remaining. LCU cut it down to five points again as another Weinmunson jumper made it 62-57, but the Wildcats drew no closer.
 
The Bulldogs pulled away from there, going on a 15-4 run to open up the largest lead of the game at 16 points, 77-61, with 2:15 left.
 
LCU used a furious rally to close the score, going on a 16-4 run to get back within four at 81-77 as Drew Tebbe attacked the basket for a lay-up, leaving just six seconds left. A Tougaloo free throw ended the scoring.
 
Weinmunson led the Wildcats with 19 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists and came up with a steal.
 
Jones finished the night with 15 points, two steals and a rebound.
 
Tebbe notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists while coming up with four steals and three rebounds.
 
LCU shot well from the field, hitting 48.4 percent of its shot attempts in the game while hitting seven three-pointers. The team made 10 of its 13 free throw attempts.
 
However, Tougaloo was able to get into the paint and get plenty of looks from close range, leading the Bulldogs to hitting at a 56.6 percent clip in the contest, scoring 52 points in the paint to LCU's 34. Tougaloo also doubled LCU in fast break points, 18-9, and second chance points, 13-6.
 
The Wildcats look to rebound back at home on Thursday night as Loyola comes up to Pineville from New Orleans. Tip-off of Thursday's game against the Wolf Pack (3-1) is set for 7 p.m. at Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.