POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH LADARIA BROWN AND COACH DAVIS

LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJacket men's basketball team returned to Solheim on Saturday as they welcomed in the Ozarks Eagles in American Southwest Conference play. The Jackets used a late second half effort and great games from freshman Ladaria Brown and junior Justin Jones to pick up the 65-53 win over the Ozarks.

Jones got the scoring rolling with a layup in the paint off an assist from Brown for the 2-0 lead. After the two teams exchanged a free throw, senior Deitrich Williams drained a short jumper followed by a jumper from senior Cristian Driver to tie the game at seven. 

After the two teams traded baskets, junior Chad Williams hit a soft layup followed by a layup from Jones and a three from Brown to pull ahead 16-9 with 11:42 to go in the half.

The Ozarks came back and got within two as both offenses began to cool down. Brown responded with a jumper and a free throw thanks to a foul on the play, but another three by the Ozarks cut the deficit to two.

Freshman Chris Hynes hit a couple of runners and senior Kendrae Carter added two free throws and a three, but the three ball kept the Eagles in the game, giving the Jackets only a 30-27 advantage at the break.

After two free throws from the Ozarks made it a one point game, C. Williams responded with two post lay ins to extend the lead back out to five. The Ozarks responded with a three, but baskets from Jones, Carter, and Brown extended the lead to 40-34 with 14:16 to go.

However, the Jackets went cold for the next five minutes and the Ozarks went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead since early in the first half at 42-40. Jones and Brown responded with two points each to tie the game back at 44.

The following possession, the Jackets forced an offensive foul and D. Williams responded with a mid-range jumper followed by a jumper from Jones to take the lead and extend it to four.

After another three from the Eagles, LeTourneau got another made basket from Jones and a daggering three from Brown. Brown and Jones then took over the game and extended the lead to 59-50 with 2:52 left.

The Eagles attempted to get back in it with the three ball they had shot so well all game long, but it was note enough as free throws sealed the deal and the Jackets took home a 65-53 victory.

With the win, the Jackets move into a tie with Texas-Dallas, but thanks to the head-to-head win on Thursday, hold onto second place in the East, just one game behind Texas-Tyler.

Jones led all scoreres with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go with six boards while Brown had a huge game himself with 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting (2-for-3 from behind the arch), 12 rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot. Carter chipped in seven while Hynes dished out four assists. 

The Jackets outshot the Eagles by a wide margin, shooting 44% from the field. The Eagles only shot 29% from the field, but connected on six threes. The Jackets also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Ozarks 45-37.

LeTourneau returned to action on Thursday as they travel to Clinton, Miss. to take on the Mississippi College Choctaws in their second meeting of the year. In their first meeting, the Jackets erased an 11 point deficit with 1:52 to go and Brown scored 11 points in the final minute to force overtime and take a 81-79 win in Longview Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and all the action can be heard live on Stretch Internet.