LONGVIEW - The LeTourneau YellowJackets open up 2013 at home as they welcomed in the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys and resumed American Southwest Conference play. In what proved to be a wild game from start to finish, the Jackets could not hold onto the lead late in the second half or in overtime as the Cowboys escaped Solheim Arena with a 79-78 overtime victory.

LeTourneau (4-9, 3-4 ASC) got the scoring started with a layup from junior Justin Jones. After Hardin-Simmons (9-3, 6-1 ASC) responded with a bucket, freshman Ladaria Brown buried two free throws and junior Chad Williams scored on a layup and the Jackets led 6-2. LeTourneau got their lead to 8-4 after Brown made a jumper, but the Cowboys responded with five straight points to take a 9-8 lead at the media timeout. 

After a basket from senior Kendrae Carter, it seemed Hardin-Simmons was going to run away with it early as they went on a 9-0 run to take a 19-10 lead. LeTourneau inched back in after a three pointer from senior Deitrich Williams. The Cowboys got their lead out to 22-14, but strong attacks gardnered made free throws from senior Cristian Driver and D. Williams followed by a layup from Carter to make it a two point game.

The two teams went back-and-forth, but Hardin-Simmons extended their lead to six late in the half. Brown responded with a three to cut the deficit in half and the two teams exchanged points to end the half with the Jackets trailing 32-29.

Hardin-Simmons got their lead to 41-33, but the duo of C. Williams and D. Williams wheeled LeTourneau right back into the game, evening the score at 41. LeTourneau turned the corner at the midway point of the second half as the strong post play from Carter, C. Williams, and Jones gave the Jackets a 49-47 lead at the 10:57 mark.

The Cowboys took the lead back at 50-49, but a jumper from Driver, a three pointer from sophomore Josh Thornton, and a pair of free throws from Thornton gave the Jackets their biggest lead of the game at 56-50. 

Hardin-Simmons kept trying to make a run at the deficit, but LeTourneau would respond greatly and continue to cling to a seven point lead with 2:07 to go. However, the Cowboys used the next minute and a half to cut the deficit to 71-70 with 49 seconds to go.

After a layup from Jones, John Derr buried a three pointer with 22 seconds to go and LeTourneau could not get a shot off thanks to tough Cowboy defense to send the game into overtime.

D. Williams started the overtime period with a layup, but Hardin-Simmons got the points right back thanks to a layup from Titus Mims. Brown then hit a free throw and followed that up with a steal and coast-to-coast lay in to extend the lead to 78-75. After a free throw and a stop, Hardin-Simmons got the game winner from Eric Taylor who buried a three pointer in the corner with 26 seconds to go to give them a 79-78 lead.

LeTourneau could not find the basket on the final play of the game and the Cowboys took the tough win.

Brown led the Jackets with 15 points while C. Williams and Carter added 14 points each. D. Williams added 12 points, dished out five assists, pulled down six boards, and had two steals. LeTourneau shot 42% from the field and 31% from the three point line while only committing 12 turnovers to the Cowboys 21. LeTourneau struggled on the boards all afternoon, being outrebounded 52-38.

The Jackets take a few days off before starting ASC East play with Louisiana College coming into Solheim Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. or 15 minutes following the women's game. Be sure and catch all the action on letuathletics.tv.