LAKE CHARLES, La. -- The LeTourneau men's basketball led for over 10 minutes in the first half as it gave McNeese State all it could handle before the Cowboys used a strong second half for a 103-69 win over the YellowJackets on Saturday inside Legacy Center.

Deonte Jackson scored 17 points in the first half as LeTourneau shot 57.1 percent in the period. The game was the second of two Division I exhibitions for the YellowJackets this season. 

McNeese improves to 5-4 on the year.

A Connor Miller 3-pointer at the 16:30 mark of the first half gave the YellowJackets an 8-7 lead and was part of a 17-4 scoring run over four-plus minutes. Jackson had 12 points during the run, including two 3-pointers and a layup that gave LeTourneau a 20-11 lead with 12:46 left in the first half.

MBB |@LETUMBB giving McNeese all it can handle in the first half. Cowboys with a 43-38 lead at the break.

➡️ Jackson: 17 pts
➡️ Team: 57.1 FG%, 6 3-ptrs

FOLLOW: https://t.co/lkt2RDBvaJ (ESPN+)#LeTourneauBuilt #d3hoops pic.twitter.com/GjXcLMU8Na

— LeTourneau YellowJackets (@LETUAthletics) December 7, 2024

LeTourneau held the lead until Quadir Copeland's three-point play with 5:45 left in the first half. 

McNeese took a 43-38 lead at halftime, despite LeTourneau shooting 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from 3-point range.

LeTourneau stayed within striking distance through the first eight minutes of the second half. Caedmon Liebengood had a three-point play early in the half and a layup from Miller made it a two-point deficit (55-53) at the 13:55 mark.

McNeese pulled away with a 12-0 run that extended the Cowboy lead to 70-55 and the margin did not dip below double-digits from that point.

Jackson finished with 21 points and five assists, while Liebengood and Walker Blaine had 14 points apiece. Blaine tallied four assists as LeTourneau had 14 in the game. Teigan Edwards added eight points and Miller had seven.

The YellowJackets finished shooting 50 percent (28-of-56) from the field with nine 3-pointers. LeTourneau forced 14 McNeese turnovers and scored 24 points off those giveaways.

Christian Shumate had a game-high 22 points for McNeese, while Copeland had 20 points with 11 assists and nine rebounds. The Cowboys connected on 69.5 percent (41-of-59) from the floor with 10 3-pointers.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau returns to regular season action on Wednesday at home vs. Dallas (7 p.m.).

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