ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University dug itself into a 19-point halftime hole to Louisiana College and couldn't complete the comeback in the second half as the Wildcats held on for 79-74 road win Saturday at Kimbrell Arena. All five LC starters scored in double figures and McMurry hit just 12 of 24 shots from the free-throw line.

The Wildcats' JeLani Mitchell scored 15 points early in the game but received his fourth foul with 17:22 left in the game. Mitchell departed the game with a 51-29 lead for his team before McMurry stormed back to a 21-6 run over the next 6:52.

Mitchell came back into the game but lasted 35 second before he picked up his fifth foul. However, the Wildcats would rally without their top point guard and kept the McMurry comeback at bay. McMurry chipped back into the lead slowly and eventually got back within four points at 74-70 with 23 second left. However, Jarrod Jackson hit two free throws and Chkumwa Ekeh scored three points in the final 20 seconds to seal the victory for LC.

Mitchell had five assists and just one turnover to accompany his team-high 15 points while Jackson added 13, Korey Salmon had 12, Ekeh scored 11 and Danny Sumner had 10 points. The Wildcats shot 48 percent from the floor for the game and hit nine 3-pointers. Seven of those long-range shots came in the first half that helped LC build a 46-27 lead.

In the losing effort ,Steven Jones had 12 points and 12 rebounds, Teddy Chambers had 15 and nine respectively, and Steven Johunkin and Bryant Taylor had a dozen points apiece. McMurry shots just 34 percent in the first half and finished 27 of 65 from the floor for 42 percent.

McMurry fell to 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the American Southwest Conference while LC impoved to 5-7 overall and 4-4 in league play.