PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University men's basketball team erased a 12-point second-half deficit with a 16-0 run before defeating Wiley in a battle of the Wildcats, 83-79 in overtime Saturday night on Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
Tomario Thomas, Jr. gave Louisiana Christian (1-2) its first lead with a 3-pointer for a 4-2 advantage, and
Kevin Wiltz later connected from beyond the arc off an
Isaac Ratliff assist to tie it at 13. The Wildcats fell behind Wiley (1-1) by eight before
Desmond Atkins turned a steal into a layup.
Cam Ned scored 13 first-half points, including his third 3-pointer with nine seconds left to cut the halftime deficit to 34-29.
Thomas scored nine points early in the second half, finishing that stretch with a 3-pointer off
Daniel Mitchell's assist for a 40-39 lead with 17:34 remaining.
Zaydrien Sewell then made two 3-pointers in 26 seconds, and Eagins followed a steal with a layup to complete an 8-0 run and put LCU ahead 48-42. Wiley answered with a 19-1 surge and still held a 63-51 advantage with 6:57 left.
LCU's comeback began with an Eagins 3-pointer assisted by Ratliff. Atkins made both free throws at 5:52, then converted a layup and the ensuing free throw to trim the deficit to four. Sewell's 3-pointer brought the Wildcats within 63-62, and Eagins scored the next five points to cap the 16-0 run for a 67-63 lead with 1:55 remaining. Atkins finished a Ned-assisted layup for a 71-68 edge with 40 seconds left, but Wiley tied it with a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left. The Wildcats missed their final attempt of regulation.
Sewell scored five overtime points, including a 3-pointer that answered a Wiley go-ahead triple. Ratliff's layup extended LCU's lead to 78-74 before Wiley rallied to tie it at 79.
Rambo Eagins made the go-ahead basket with 48 seconds remaining in the extra period, then Atkins blocked a layup attempt by Wiley with 26 seconds left and Eagins secured the rebound. Ned made 1-of-2 free throws with 23 seconds left. Atkins then blocked a 3-point attempt with six seconds remaining, and Ratliff collected the rebound before making 1-of-2 free throws at three seconds and rebounding his own miss to close out the win.
Atkins led five Wildcats in double figures with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, eight rebounds and three blocks. Ned and Sewell scored 14 points apiece, with Sewell shooting 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Thomas and Eagins each finished with 12 points. Eagins added five assists and four steals, Ned contributed five assists and Ratliff led LCU with 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats recorded 21 assists on 29 baskets, shot 12-of-29 from beyond the arc and converted 21 Wiley turnovers into 26 points. Those advantages helped LCU overcome a 46-37 rebounding deficit and Wiley's 49.2% shooting, while the Wildcats made 13-of-24 free throws.
The Wildcats head to Houston on Tuesday to take on NCAA Division I Houston Christian in an exhibition contest. Tip-off of Tuesday's game against the Huskies (0-0) is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+.
