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Coach Dan Miller
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The YellowJackets earned their school-record 11th consecutive victory as they held on for an 81-77 win over East Texas Baptist on Thursday night in front of a loud and rowdy BLUE CREW in Solheim Arena. LeTourneau improves to 15-4 overall and is 8-3 in conference play, sitting at the top of the ASC’s East Division. The previous record of 10-straight wins came from the 1986-87 team led by Terry Zeitlow.
“I was so happy and thankful for our home fans tonight as we had an excellent student section. Both teams played very hard, and ETBU is a good team so I’m not surprised it came down to the last game,” said head coach Dan Miller<http://letuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=436> after the win.
Caleb Loggins<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3310> and Jeff Martin<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3311> led the scoring for LeTourneau as they poured in 17 each. Loggins was efficient from the floor shooting 7-10 from the floor and pulled down seven rebounds. The Lewisville High School product also had a career-high five blocks. The YellowJackets had LETU-record-14 blocks as a team, one shy of the ASC record of 15 held by Hardin-Simmons in 2005 against LETU.
Martin shot 8-12 from the field and dished out a team-high five assists. The Seven Lakes High School product is second in the ASC and ranks in the top-20 in the nation at 6.1 assists per game. The YellowJackets currently lead NCAA DIII with a 1.79 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Joining them in double-figures were Nate West<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3318>, Alec Colhoff<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3307>, and Caylab Herrera<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3325> who all finished with 12 points in another balanced scoring effort from LeTourneau. Herrera was 3-4 from behind the arc and added two blocks in just 15 minutes.
Cordele Jackson<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3327> brought a much-needed spark off the bench in the first half as he helped the YellowJackets overcome an eight-point deficit with 6:39 mark of the opening period. Jackson’s defensive play propelled LETU as they scored 15 unanswered points to take a 37-30 lead with 2:44 remaining in half. The Decatur, Georgia native recorded five blocks, six rebounds and four points and a steal in his 12 minutes.
After trading baskets, Martin hit a step-back jumper at the buzzer to give LETU a 41-34 lead going into the locker room.
The YellowJackets weren’t able to hold off the Tigers for long as a Landin Brown three-pointer gave ETBU a 51-50 lead at the 13:06 mark. Herrera knocked down a three of his own with 2:53 remaining to give LETU a six-point lead.
With 39 seconds on the clock, the YellowJackets held a 79-77 lead, but ETBU had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead. Caleb Loggins<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3310> would make a huge defensive play, taking charge on the Tiger’s Jordan Quillan.
“We feel we can score the basketball, so it was excellent to end on a defense of stop tonight with the charge taken by Caleb,” said Miller. “It wasn’t always pretty tonight, but I’m extremely proud of this team for making the plays at the end of the game and answering ETBU’s runs.”
Colhoff, who shot a perfect 9 of 9 from the free-throw line, sank the final free throw to give LETU a four-point lead with just two seconds remaining. Colhoff would steal the inbounds pass to seal the victory for the YellowJackets.
“I’m proud of the guys for really gutting out a win tonight, and now we need to get back tomorrow to the gym and have a great practice,” said Miller.
LeTourneau will be back at Solheim Arena on Saturday as the Wildcats of Louisiana College come to town. LC comes in with a 4-12 overall record and 1-9 in conference play. Tipoff is 3:00 pm.
[ouisiana College logo] Next Game:Louisiana College
1/28/2017 – 3 p.m.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The YellowJackets used a 46-28 second half to blow by East Texas Baptist on Thursday night en route to their 10th win of the season.
“The team stepped up defensively tonight and won the battle of the boards,” said head coach Leslie Reinecker<http://letuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=454>. “Although we struggled offensively early, I am happy with how we looked to create fast break opportunities from our defense and then crashed the boards. This effort helped us get into our rhythm and get better looks at the basket.”
LETU improves to 7-4 in the American Southwest Conference behind a career and record-breaking night from LaTanya Drakes<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3364>. The YellowJackets outrebounded the Tigers 58-45 and forced 22 ETBU turnovers. East Texas Baptist falls to 3-15 overall and 1-9 in the ASC.
Drakes had yet another double-double performance as she scored 16 points to pair with her career-high and LETU-record 24 rebounds. The senior forward is averaging a double-double with 17.4 PPG and 13.7 RPG and is eighth in NCAA Division III with 247 total rebounds.
Crystal Jones<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3367> had another high-scoring night as she dropped in 22 points, a balanced 11 in each half. Jones also tied a career-high with seven steals. The senior guard was 9-10 from the free throw line and remains the league’s leading scorer at 21 points per game. The YellowJackets shot 82.1 percent (23-28) from the charity stripe.
Senior Jada Roberts<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3373> pulled down nine rebounds to go along with seven points for the YellowJackets. Sophomore Jaila Leaven<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3368> added six points off the bench.
LeTourneau started the game slowly as they couldn’t find the shooting touch in the first quarter, but a Crystal Jones<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3367> jumper and Jada Roberts<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3373> three gave the YellowJackets a 14-10 lead at the end of the period.
That lead would grow to eight in the second quarter, but ETBU would make a run to end the half as they cut the lead to 24-22 at the break.
The third quarter was the tipping point as the YellowJackets erupted with ten unanswered points forcing a Tiger timeout. A LaTanya Drakes<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3364> layup at the end of the period gave LETU a 44-31 lead going into the final 10 minutes.
The LeTourneau lead swelled to as many as 27 in the fourth quarter on a Cashe Ervine<http://letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3378> free throw.
The YellowJackets will be back in Solheim Arena on Saturday as they host Louisiana College at 1 p.m. The Wildcats come in 5-11 overall and have a 4-6 record in the ASC, currently sitting in fourth-place in the East Division behind LETU.