CONWAY, Ark. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team got 27 points from the debuting
Cam Ned, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats dropped their season opener, 79-72 to the Central Baptist Mustangs Friday night at the A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse.
Ned gave Louisiana Christian (0-1) a 3-2 lead with a 3-pointer off
Rambo Eagins' assist at just more than three minutes into the first half. After the Wildcats fell behind Central Baptist (1-0) 18-12, Eagins' 3-pointer pulled them within one with 13 minutes left. The deficit later reached nine, but LCU generated offense through its defense when Eagins' steal and assist set up a
Desmond Atkins dunk with 3:15 left. Ned made both free-throw attempts with five seconds remaining to close the half with 15 points and bring the Wildcats within 38-34.
Eagins opened LCU's second half with a 3-pointer assisted by
Daniel Mitchell, and @Atkins converted an offensive rebound into a 39-38 lead with 19:06 remaining. The Wildcats then went scoreless during Central Baptist's 7-0 response and eventually trailed 56-43. Mitchell's 3-pointer and Ned's basket trimmed that deficit to eight with 10:58 left, but another 7-0 run pushed the margin back to 15. LCU faced its largest deficit, 68-52, with 7:13 left.
Isaac Ratliff helped drive the comeback with consecutive baskets, the second assisted by
Kevin Wiltz to cut the deficit to 69-60 at 4:11.
Zaydrien Sewell hit a 3-pointer off Mitchell's assist to make it 75-67 with 1:52 left, then another off Ratliff's pass to bring LCU within 76-70 with 28 seconds remaining. The Mustangs converted enough down the stretch to keep the Wildcats from finishing the comeback attempt.
Ned finished 12-of-17 from the field with five rebounds. Ratliff supplied 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench, scoring 12 of his points after halftime. Mitchell added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, eight rebounds and three assists without a turnover. Sewell made both of his 3-point attempts as the Wildcats received 21 points from their bench.
Eagins contributed eight points, six assists and five of LCU's 10 steals. Atkins blocked two shots, while Wiltz added two steals and a block. The Wildcats shot 51.7% from the field and recorded 16 assists on 30 baskets, but their 21 turnovers contributed to a 19-10 disadvantage in points off turnovers.
LCU held Central Baptist to 41.5% shooting but was outrebounded 38-36, including 14-7 on the offensive glass, and surrendered 16 second-chance points. The Wildcats also finished 5-of-12 at the free-throw line compared with Central Baptist's 18-of-29.
The Wildcats look to enter the win column for the first time this season on Wednesday as LCU heads to the Big Easy to take on #14 Loyola. Tip-off of Wednesday's contest against the #14 Wolf Pack (0-1) is set for 6 p.m. at The Den.
