Box Score MARSHALL, Texas – Managing to lead by as many as 19 throughout the game and never trail, the LeTourneau University men's basketball team would bounce back with a 77-69 win over Schreiner University at the American Southwest Conference/Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Crossover Tournament hosted by East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas on Friday, November 16th.
LeTourneau is now 2-1 on the year while the Mountaineers fall to 0-2 after losing their second consecutive game to an ASC opponent.
"It was one of those games where you are happy you won but not pleased with the execution" said head coach
Dan Miller in a post-game interview. "We had more turnovers than assists and shot a low percentage from both the field and free throw line." "Defensively, we did some good things tonight but need to play that way for 40 minutes as we didn't finish the game like we would like." "All things we can focus on improving as we look to get a little better each day."
From the opening tip, the YellowJackets would take control of the game by scoring 15 of the first 17 points by pushing the tempo to match their game style. Schreiner would respond with a 7-2 run sparked by an Andrew Sparks triple, and cut the LETU lead down to seven at 18-11 just past the midway point of the first half. LeTourneau managed to maintain their lead and threaten to go up double digits once again, but it would be the Mountaineers who would use a 7-0 scoring spurt to cut the YellowJacket lead down to 26-25 with 4:24 remaining before halftime. Another big push by LETU would quickly give LeTourneau some breathing room at 39-27 with 90 seconds left in the first period before settling at an eight-point lead at 41-33 at intermission.
The LETU lead would be maintained throughout the opening minutes of the second half, as foul trouble would threaten to give Schreiner an advantage in the low post and close the gap. Defense would step up big for the YellowJackets to overcome the issue however as LeTourneau would use a 14-5 advantage in the opening 10 minutes of the second half to take a 55-38 lead. LETU would continue to build upon their double-digit lead, threatening to run away with a blowout victory before the Mountaineers would make the game interesting with a late push. A 9-0 Schreiner run cut the once 19-point LeTourneau lead all the way down to 11 at 67-56 with 2:01 remaining in the game, but free throws would allow the YellowJackets to push the lead back to 14 at 72-58. Down the stretch the Mountaineers would be unable to close the deficit to smaller than six as LETU would hold on for the win.
LeTourneau would hold a 17-11 advantage in fast break points but see Schreiner hold a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint. The YellowJackets would have to overcome foul trouble and 14 turnovers in the game, while connecting on just 21-of-57 shots (36.8 percent). Leading the charge for LETU junior
Nate West with a team-high 16 points and two assists while
Justin Moore collected a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior
Christian Seidl would add 15 points and eight rebounds of his own to help LeTourneau to a plus-14 advantage in rebounds (46-32). Schreiner would get a game-high 17 points from guard Ellis Jones in the loss.
LeTourneau will take on their second-consecutive SCAC opponent tomorrow afternoon with a 2 p.m. matchup against Texas Lutheran University. The Bulldogs are scheduled to take on host East Texas Baptist University at 8 p.m. on Friday evening.
