MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- LeTourneau University men's basketball team held on for a 64-62 win over Millikin Sunday in the consolation game of the Rhodes Tip-Off Tournament.
The victory bumped LeTourneau's record to 2-1, while Millikin fell to 0-3.
"We had one of those games where we just could not put the ball in the basket today," YellowJackets coach
Dan Miller said. "Millikin played great defense today, but we need to finish our touches and free throws going forward."
The Jackets shot 34 percent from the field, going 23 of 67. They were 10 of 18 from the free throw line for 55.6 percent. Millikin hit 32 percent of its field goals, and went 13 of 15 from the stripe for 86.7 percent.
LeTourneau trailed 41-35 with 14:13 to go after the Big Blue's Sam Stichnote sank a free throw to cap a three-point play.
Nate West buried a triple, and
Kyle Matthews scored in the paint, and then sank a pair of free throws to give the Jackets a one-point lead. The Big Blue built its lead out to four on Kelvin Jones' triple midway through the second half before
Brick Fosnight buried two threes and came up with a big block and a defensive board that led to
John Argue's transition bucket during an 8-0 run that moved the YellowJackets in front, 50-46.
Millikin went on a 7-0 run to reclaim control, 53-50, after three Troy Burrows free throws at the 5:57 mark. Fosnight scored the next two baskets on finds by Matthews and West,
Andrew Eberhardt canned a three, and
Justin Moore knocked down two transition baskets in the paint as the YellowJackets moved back in front, 61-53, with 3:26 to go. The Big Blue cut it to four on Cedric Mitchell's basket at the 1:55 mark, but Fosnight responded again, hitting a jumper on the next trip down the floor. Mitchell scored again with 1:11 to play, but after a series of alternating fouls and turnovers on both teams, West sank the first of two free throws with five seconds left to preserve the victory.
"I am really proud of our team for pulling out the win today, and it was great to see
Brick Fosnight step up with some clutch baskets down the stretch," Miller said. "Even though Nate didn't shoot it good today, he had 10 assists, and like all our guys, battled on defense."
Fosnight finished with a career-high 21 points on 9 of 16 shooting, and had career highs in rebounds (10), steals (three) and blocks (two). It was the first double-double of his career. West had nine points to go along with his 10 dimes and two steals. Moore scored 11 points, going 5 of 10 from the floor, and had five boards and three steals. Eberhardt had nine points on 3 of 6 triple tries. Argue scored eight points, and Matthews added six.
Stichnote had 13 points and seven boards, Burrows 11 points and six rebounds, and Jake Hampton scored 10 for the Big Blue.
LETU converted 20 Millikin turnovers into 28 points. The Big Blue scored 15 points off 14 turnovers. Both teams scored 24 points in the paint.
"We have a lot to improve on with our young team, but I'm proud of them for finding a way to win today," Miller said.
The YellowJackets will play at Sam Houston State 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in an exhibition game on ESPN+.
