PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team struggled to find its shooting touch, sending the Wildcats to their third-straight, dropping an 85-51 decision to the Loyola Wolf Pack Thursday night at Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
 
Louisiana Christian (1-3) had an early edge as Drew Tebbe scored the game's first five points and then Corey Lombard, Jr. added a lay-up to give the Wildcats a 7-2 lead 75 seconds into the contest.
 
But Loyola (4-1) scored the next 16 points to jump ahead 18-7 as the Wildcats went ice cold. A lay-up by Chad Jones got LCU back within nine at 18-9, but that would be the final time the Wildcats would be within 10 as the Wolf Pack pulled away. Loyola led by as much as 21 points in the first half and its lead would peak at 38 points in the second half.
 
Tomario Thomas, Jr. came off the bench to lead the Wildcats in scoring with 11 points, the only LCU player to reach double figures in the contest.
 
Larry Lee grabbed 10 rebounds to lead all players.
 
Underscoring LCU's shooting woes on the evening, the Wildcats finished the game hitting 22.7 percent from the field while hitting on 23.1 percent from above the three-point arc.
 
For its part, the Wolf Pack hit 45.3 percent from the field but just 23.3 percent from above the arc. Loyola dominated inside, getting 52 points in the paint and 20 second chance points.
 
The Wildcats look to rebound on Saturday as LCU welcomes in William Carey. Tip-off of Saturday's contest against the Crusaders (5-0) is set for 4 p.m., or about 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game, at Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.