Louisiana College falls to Sul Ross State University

The Louisiana College men’s basketball team was unable to complete the sweep of Sul Ross Thursday night as the Wildcats couldn’t overcome an eight-point halftime deficit in the 74-66 loss to the Lobos at Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 9-3 lead four minutes into the first half, with the nine points coming from four different players. The run was capped by a 3-pointer from Palmer Hill.
After the media time out with less than 16 minutes remaining in the first half, Sul Ross put together a 12-0 run in a four-minute frame for a 15-9 lead.
The Lobos held on to their lead through the remainder of the first half as every time the Wildcats cut it to a single possession, Sul Ross responded.
With 3:02 left in the half, a jumper from Brandon Watkins put the Wildcats down by three, but Sul Ross ended the half with a 6-1 run for a 36-28 lead at halftime.
Louisiana College came out sluggish in the second half, and the eight-point Lobo lead turned into a 14-point lead just two minutes into the half.
Still down by double figures at the 15:26 mark, the Wildcats gradually chipped away at the Sul Ross lead.
During the next five minutes, Louisiana College worked its way back into the game, going on a 14-4 stretch on the shoulders of senior Raheem Regis and freshman standout Taylan Grogan. The combo scored 11 of the Wildcats’ 14 points during the stretch. The run’s final three points came from a Travis Schultz’s 3-pointer to cut Louisiana College’s deficit to 53-50 midway through the final half.
After Schultz pulled the Wildcats within a single shot of the Lobos, back-to-back layups from Grogan, a Patterson High alum, and John Parker gave Louisiana College its first lead since the 15:26 mark of the first half.
Louisiana College held the lead for the next three minutes until a 3-pointer from Brock Anders tied the game at 60 with 6:31 remaining.
The Lobos scored the next 10 points unanswered and extended its lead to double digits again.
Louisiana College got within four points with just more than a minute remaining, but Sul Ross converted its free throws to secure the 74-66 victory.
Raheem Regis led the Wildcats with 19 points, while Steve Evans picked up his second double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and 15 points. Grogan scored in double figures for the second straight game with 13.
The Wildcats take on conference rival East Texas Baptist Saturday in Marshall, Texas, in Louisiana College’s third American Southwest Conference game of the week. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.