SHREVEPORT — The Louisiana Christian University men’s basketball team finally found itself on the right side of a one-possession nailbiter and could hardly have chosen a better time to do it.
Drew Tebbe was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final minute, including two with four seconds remaining that made the difference in the Wildcats’ 77-76 victory over 14th-ranked LSUS.
It was LCU’s first victory over a top-15 ranked opponent since March 14, 2021 (a win over No. 10 Mary Hardin-Baylor) and was the Wildcats’ first win over the perennial NAIA playoff fixture Pilots in 28 years (since Dec. 7, 1996).
Tebbe was constantly receiving praise from the LSUS broadcaster for making “savvy point guard moves” all night long, leading all Wildcats scorers with 16 points. The O’Fallon, Illinois native put together a team-best five assists in addition to three boards and a steal, going 4-for-6 from the field, 2-of-4 from long-range, and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line.
Jon’Quarius McGhee helped the visitors rack up a superb +21 (44-23) rebounding margin by pulling down a career-most eight rebounds.
Devin Carter reappeared following a three-game hiatus, scoring 15 points plus a steal and three boards.
The Wildcats rose to 3-5 overall, 2-3 in the Red River Athletic Conference. LSUS dipped to 4-4 overall, 1-3 in the league.
Coach Reni Mason’s team prevailed in his hometown. Now, the men from “The Hill” go for back-to-back ranked road victories over LSU-affiliated schools on Monday evening against the sixth-ranked LSU Alexandria Generals at 7:30 p.m. at The Fort north of Lecompte.
In other RRAC action Thursday, the LSUS women rolled 100-60 over LCU, while the Xavier Gold Nuggets swept a conference doubleheader from visiting LSUA.
The LSUA men (6-1, 3-1 RRAC) lost for the first time in seven games, falling 89-72.
The LSUA women (6-2, 3-1 RRAC) were edged 85-80.