A 6-0 spurt late in the first half was just enough to propel host Louisiana College to an 85-76 win over the LeTourneau University men's basketball team in the inaugural game of the new floor of H.O. West Fieldhouse in Pineville, Louisiana.

The two teams had exchanged leads on five occasions and tied on four more times in the first 14 minutes of the contest until the Wildcats' Dillon Mandeville hit his first of three 3 pointers to give LC the lead that it would not relinquish for the rest of the contest.
 
LeTourneau (5-12, 3-9 ASC) bounced back from its lowest shooting effort of the season for its second highest effort on the season, making 47.8% (32-of-67) shots from the field. One of the most prolific players in the lineup for LETU was junior Jake Kennedy, who scored a season-high 16 points. Kennedy and the YellowJackets made a season-high 12 three pointers in the game. The most by a LETU squad since they hit 13 in overtime against Sul Ross State, last year in Alpine, on January 16.
 
Louisiana College (8-7, 8-4 ASC) landed three players in double digits including Anthony Gaines (25 points), Kevin Lewis (21 points) and Kevin Cottonham (14 points). The trio accounted for 70 of the 85 points for the victorious Wildcats, who scored 19 of the 70 at the free-throw line.
 
The 6-0 spurt put host LC ahead 25-19 with 5:38 to play in the first half and the YellowJackets managed to cut the deficit to two in the opening half. In the second half, Louisiana College saw the YellowJackets cut it to one on a pair of occasions before building a 15-point advantage on a pair of occasions. Facing a 74-59 deficit with 2:39 to play, LeTourneau rallied to cut the deficit to five, 81-76, when freshman Sam Talbert made a 3 pointer with :36 left in the game. Jared Hunter, Kennedy and Talbert each contributed a 3 pointer in the comeback. LC sealed the win, making its final four free-throw attempts.
 
Despite the loss, the LeTourneau bench outscored Louisiana College, 34-14. For the YellowJackets, reserves C.J. Edwards and Aaron Frizell each had nine points and Hunter added 8. Kennedy was joined in double digits by junior Giovanny Thompson, who scored 12 points. It is the fifth time that he has scored in double digits.
 
Next up for LeTourneau is a contest against No. 12 UT Tyler at the Herrington Patriot Center in Tyler on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Earlier this year, LeTourneau defeated UT Tyler, 84-81 in double overtime in Longview on Dec. 16