PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team hit 15 three-pointers, the most in a single game since moving from NCAA Division III to NAIA, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats fell 79-69 to the North American Stallions Friday night on the Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
 
Louisiana Christian (4-15, 2-11 RRAC) was in front almost the entire way in the first half. Drew Tebbe hit a three-pointer for the game's first points 1:45 into the contest and the Wildcats would not fall behind throughout the first half. North American (10-7, 8-6 RRAC) tied the score twice during the first 20 minutes, the first at 3-3.
 
With LCU leading 10-9, a three-pointer by Bryce Weinmunson started an 11-4 Wildcat run which Tomario Thomas, Jr. ended with a three of his own to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the contest at 21-13. The Stallions answered that with an 8-0 run to tie the score for the second time in the period, doing so at 21-21.
 
A lay-up by Thomas, Jr. on LCU's ensuing possession gave the Wildcats the lead for the remainder of the half with the Wildcats taking a 34-32 lead to the halftime locker room.
 
North American hit a three-pointer to open the scoring in the second half, taking its first lead of the contest. After the two teams traded baskets, giving the Stallions a 37-36 lead, Weinmunson and Thomas, Jr. went back-to-back with triples to reestablish a five-point Wildcat lead at 42-37 with 17:15 left in the contest.
 
The LCU lead grew back to seven points several times over the coming minutes, the last with 14:15 left as Thomas, Jr. hit from the mid-range to make it 50-43 Louisiana Christian.
 
NAU responded with an 8-0 run to reclaim the lead and from then on, it was a tight affair with neither team leading by more than five points until the critical run. With the Stallions leading 67-64 with just more than five minutes left, NAU scored the next eight points for the first double-digit lead of the game at 75-64 with 2:10 left.
 
A three-pointer by Justice Kelly couldn't kick off a last ditch run for the Wildcats as North American scored the next four points to make it a 12-3 Stallion run to give NAU the largest lead of the contest at 12 points, 79-67, with 30 seconds left in the contest.
 
Weinmunson led the Wildcats, hitting six three-pointers on his way to 22 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds, came up with two steals, and was credited with an assist in the contest.
 
Thomas, Jr. came off the bench and hit three three-pointers of his own as he finished the game with 15 points. He had two assists, two steals, and a rebound.
 
Two of Tebbe's three makes came from beyond the arc as he finished with 14 points. He was just two assists shy of a double-double, finishing with eight helpers. He also had a steal and a rebound.
 
Kelly came up one point shy of a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring nine points. He also blocked a shot.
 
LCU's 15 made three-pointers was the most in a single game since the Wildcats connected on 17 from beyond the arc against Belhaven on Feb. 8, 2021, as the world was getting back to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic and while Louisiana Christian was still called Louisiana College, a member of NCAA Division III, and in the American Southwest Conference, its last season before moving to the NAIA. The Wildcats finished the game hitting 39.3 percent from the field and 48.4 percent from three-point range.
 
North American hit 48.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
 
With the four-game home stand now complete, the Wildcats hit on the road for the next three, starting on Tuesday night as LCU heads to the Crescent City for the rematch of Thursday night's contest against Xavier. Tip-off of Tuesday's game against the Gold Rush (12-5, 9-3 RRAC) is set for 7:30 p.m. at Xavier's Convocation Center.