Wiley comes up short in overtime against Louisiana Christian
PINEVILLE, La. – Wiley University men’s basketball rallied after allowing a double-digit lead slip away but could not finish off Louisiana Christian University in an 83-79 overtime loss Saturday on Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
The Wildcats (1-1) drop their 14th consecutive game away from Alumni Gymnasium. It’s the third straight loss against Louisiana Christian University since 2022.
Wiley held a 34-29 lead at halftime after holding LCU under 40 percent shooting. It fell behind with just under 14 minutes remaining. After giving up a 3-pointer, two turnovers led to five points, putting Wiley in a five-point hole. Two second-chance layups by Jemarcus Brown and Ka’Leb Connors put Wiley back in front, 50-49 with 11:50 remaining.
Christian Ford stole the ball and hit a 3-pointer to increase the lead to four. A layup by Troy Jenkins, a second-chance bucket by Ford and a layup by Antonio Odum gave Wiley a 10-point lead with nine minutes remaining. The Wildcats only made two field goals in the next seven minutes, which allowed Louisiana Christian to storm back and take a four-point lead with under two minutes remaining.
Amoni Waring hit two 3-pointers with his second tying the game at 71 with 17 seconds remaining. Louisiana Christian’s game-winning 3-point attempt went off the rim sending the game into overtime. A 3-pointer by Odum briefly gave Wiley the lead. Louisiana Christian took the lead right back with a three and-one.
Wiley trailed by four with 2:55 left. Odum cut it to one with a layup. Jemarcus Brown tied the game at 79 from the free throw line. The Wildcats missed their last two shots and turned the ball over. They outshot Louisiana Christian 49.2 to 43.9 percent but LCU shot better from 3-point territory, hitting 12 while Wiley only hit six. It outrebounded Louisiana Christian 46-37 but lost the turnover battle 21-16.
Brown led the Wildcats with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Odum also scored 14 points, shooting 6-for-12 and adding three rebounds. Waring and Jenkins finished in double figures with 10 points.
The Wildcats will return to action on Friday when they travel to Central Baptist College. For more coverage on the Wildcats visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/mbkb/index
www.wileyathletics.com adglover@wileyc.edu 903-927-3399
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 13 varsity women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
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