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LONGVIEW -- LeTourneau University men's basketball team will play three games over the Christmas break, beginning with Monday's 3 p.m. matinee at Austin College.
The YellowJackets (5-1) also will play in the Cru Holiday Classic at Mary Hardin-Baylor Dec. 27-28. LETU meets No. 9 Wisconsin-Platteville 3 p.m. Dec. 27 and Whitman 3 p.m. Dec. 28. Both Whitman and host UHMB are receiving votes in the NCAA Division III D3Hoops.com Top 25 national poll. Austin College is 3-3 entering its 4 p.m. Saturday game against Ozarks. UW-Platteville is off to an 9-0 start, and Whitman is 5-2.
"We have three challenging nonconference games before we start American Southwestern Conference play over the Christmas break," LETU coach
Dan Miller said. "Austin College is undefeated at home, and we need to be focused there. We are very excited to play two excellent teams in Wisconsin Platteville and Whitman at the Cru Holiday Classic, coming out of Christmas break. Both teams have tradition, national recognition and are just really good basketball teams."
Entering the nonconference game at Austin, LETU will have had a 13-day layoff -- its longest hiatus of the season. In the YellowJackets' last game, a 99-83 win over Centenary in the home opener on Dec. 3, LeTourneau recorded season highs in points, assists (23), rebounds (53) and three-point field goals (13). It was the first time to don the Blue and Gold in Solheim Arena this season.
Now the Jackets head on the road for five consecutive games that will extend into the beginning of ASC play. The next time the Blue Crew will have an opportunity to see the Jackets in person is Jan. 9 in the ASC home opener against Ozarks.
"It sometimes can be interesting how we will play after a lengthy break, but I know the guys will be focused to play such high caliber opponents right before ASC play," Miller said. "We feel playing against Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State and such a difficult NCAA schedule mostly on the road is a fun challenge that has only made us stronger."
