LONGVIEW, Texas – A 13 point deficit with 9:23 remaining in regulation would not be enough to hold back the LeTourneau University men's basketball team from forcing overtime before going on to come away with a 117-110 victory over Concordia University Texas at Solheim Arena in Longview, Texas on Saturday, December 2nd.
In a battle of American Southwest Conference preseason favorites, the YellowJackets won their fifth straight game to improve to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the ASC while the Tornadoes finish their weekend opening road swing with a 4-3 overall record and 0-2 in conference.

Defense would be optional and hard to find in the first 10 minutes of the game as both CTX and LETU would get out and play at a frenetic pace while matching each other point for point through the first 16 points of the game. Three point shooting would allow LeTourneau to trade two point baskets by the Tornadoes with triples of their own to build a five point lead at 19-14 with 14:04 remaining in the first half before three straight treys by Concordia gave the visitors a 23-22 lead with 12:38 remaining in the opening period.

An 8-0 run by CTX gave the Tornadoes a 33-26 lead that would be extended to nine at 41-32 with 6:41 remaining in the first half as LeTourneau's high octane start would slow down and be brought back to reality. The lead would balloon to 13 on Concordia's fifth three of the first half with 3:07 remaining in the first half before the YellowJackets would manage to end the half on a 9-2 run and get back within six points at 57-51.

In the second half, LeTourneau would keep the pace with the Tornadoes throughout the opening minutes of the half but never could fully close the gap and tie the game. After cutting the CTX lead to three at 69-66, Concordia would use a 7-0 run to push the lead back to double digits at 76-66 with 13:25 remaining in regulation and hold onto their comfortable lead.

LETU faced their largest deficit of the game with 9:23 remaining in the second half at 89-76 with foul trouble starting to catch up to the YellowJackets before five straight points from senior Caylab Herrera brought LeTourneau back within eight. Senior guard Alec Colhoff would foul out with 5:40 remaining in regulation despite scoring a game-high 27 points, leaving the court with LETU trailing by five at 94-89.

From that point forward, LETU would cut into Concordia's lead and get the deficit down to one on a Herrera layup before tying the game at 98-98 on a Nate West triple that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. CTX would respond with a pair of free throws and use a turnover and layup to reclaim a four-point lead with 1:48 remaining but West once again would answer the call with a layup and pair of free throws to tie the game at 102-102 with 26 seconds left in regulation. Concordia would get a chance at a game-winning shot but see a Joe Neal jumper hit off the rim and bounce harmlessly to the floor to send the game to overtime.

In the extra session, West would continue his scoring ways by scoring four straight points following a Concordia layup to start the overtime period and give LeTourneau their first lead since the 11:41 mark in the first half. The Tornadoes once again answered with a Detarrius Kirk dunk to pull back within two, but LeTourneau would manage to hold their lead and get a Herrera rebound and put back to put LETU up 114-108 with 58 seconds remaining. Concordia would hit a pair of free throws on their next trip down the court, but would get no closer as three free throws by West ended the game with LeTourneau pulling out the seven-point victory.

It was an incredible basketball game tonight and Concordia Texas is a great team that laid it all on the line tonight" said head coach Dan Miller in a post-game interview. I am extremely proud of our guys for gutting out a win tonight and putting together a great team effort." "Both teams could really score and CTX is tough to stop, but we kept hanging around and once we brought in senior Sam Talbert it provided a much needed spark."

The two teams would combine to hit 75 shots from the field as LETU would finish 39-71 (54.9 percent) from the field while connecting on 13 of 28 three's (46.4 percent). Concordia Texas would nearly match LeTourneau by finishing 36-78 (46.2 percent) from the field and 9 of 27 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc while getting to the line 34 times (29-34, 85.3 percent). Rebounding would be in favor of the YellowJackets by a margin of 44-33 while the Tornadoes would take advantage of 23 LETU turnovers leading to 26 points.

Colhoff's 27 points would be courtesy of 9 of 13 shooting from the field which included a season-high seven three's while West would wind up with 26 points and seven assists. Herrera had himself a 23 point, 10 rebound performance while freshman Justin Moore (18 points) and junior Caleb Loggins (13 points) gave LETU all five starters in double-figures for the second-straight game. Concordia Texas would also wind up with five players in double-figures, as Neal and Philip Meikle had 20 points each.

A much-needed week break for finals will await LeTourneau before the longest road trip of the regular season for the YellowJackets. LETU will head to Alpine, Texas for a 4 p.m. American Southwest Conference clash with Sul Ross State University on Saturday, December 10th. The Lobos sit at 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the ASC following a 63-60 road loss at Texas-Dallas on Saturday.