New coach leads LC to D-I upset in debut

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Dylan Brewer's big shot gave the Wildcats the lead for good.
Louisiana College athletics photo 

The Louisiana College men's basketball team pulled off an upset of Division I McNeese State on Tuesday night in Lake Charles, as the Wildcats took down the Cowboys by a final score of 73-70 in the debut game for first-year head coach Reni Mason. 

It's the first win for a Division III school against a Division I opponent since 2013, when Wilmington defeated Miami (Ohio).

Junior guard Dylan Brewer's 3-pointer with 22 seconds left broke a 68-68 tie and gave LC their first lead since the 8:08 mark of the second half. 

The Cowboys took a 40-36 lead into the locker room at halftime after shooting 17-for-33 (51.5 percent) from the field while holding the Wildcats to a 32.1% (9-for-28) clip from the field in the first 20 minutes. But the Wildcats found their rhythm on defense in the second half, allowing McNeese to just 30 points in the second half on 9-for-29 (31%) shooting from the field, including just 2-for-9 (22.2%) from beyond the three-point arc. 

The Wildcats went 5-for-10 from beyond the arc in the second half, but ultimately won the game at the free throw line, making 28 of their 34 attempts from the charity stripe on the night and forcing 19 McNeese State turnovers.

Senior preseason All-American Anthony Gaines, Jr. led the Wildcats with 18 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks, and four steals. Raheem Regis (14 points, nine rebounds), Kevin Cottonham (14 points, five assists), and Dylan Brewer (13 points) also reached double figures in scoring for LC on the night.

It was the first game as head coach for Mason, who replaced 29-year head coach Gene Rushing at the helm this past offseason.

Division III-over-Division I upsets

Date Winner Loser Score Highlights
Nov. 17, 2015 Louisiana College McNeese State 73-70 New LC coach replaces legend with a flourish
Nov. 23, 2013 Wilmington Miami (Ohio) 65-63 Rallied from down 12 in final nine minutes
Nov. 17, 2010 Colorado College Air Force 60-57 (OT) Tigers hold Falcons to one FG in OT
Dec. 4, 2008 Millikin SIU-Edwardsville 70-59 Millikin rallies vs. first-year D-I program
Nov. 23, 2007 Shenandoah Houston Baptist 78-75 Houston Baptist's first year in D-I
Dec. 30, 2006 UT-Dallas  UT-Arlington  78-76  UTD finishes game on 26-10 run 
Dec. 28, 2005 Carnegie Mellon  Princeton  51-46 Princeton had won 27 in a row vs. D-III teams
Dec. 22, 2005 Puget Sound UC Riverside 115-111 UPS forces 22 second-half turnovers
Dec. 18, 2004 Gettysburg Navy 75-69 Gettysburg avenged one-point loss from 2003
Dec. 4, 2003 Williams Holy Cross  78-71 Williams led comfortably throughout
Dec. 4, 2003 Fisk Tennessee State 65-63 Fisk hits FTs, survives buzzer-beater attempt
Dec. 20, 2002 Mary Washington VMI 60-56 VMI 2-8 FT down stretch, MWC 7-9
Dec. 4, 2002 Johns Hopkins Navy 66-61 Navy had won previous 16 meetings
Nov. 25, 2002 Fisk Tennessee State 69-65 Fifth D-III upset in three years
Dec. 29, 2001 Macalester Yale 90-82 Mac 30-40 from line in game at Furman tourney
Dec. 18, 2000 Wartburg Central Florida 72-60 Wartburg finishes on 19-8 run
Nov. 25, 2000 Augustana Western Illinois 76-71 Drew Carstens scores 25 as Augie holds off rally
Nov. 18, 2000 Catholic Albany 59-56 Pat Maloney scores 20, Catholic goes on to win title
Nov. 24, 1998 McMurry UT-Arlington 80-76 McMurry comes back from 18 down in second half
Dec. 6, 1997 Sewanee Belmont 74-69