A career-high 19 points by senior C.J. Edwards was not enough in the season opener for the LeTourneau University men's basketball team, who dropped a 72-69 decision to visiting Austin College on Saturday in Solheim Arena.
 
The YellowJackets (0-1) got a spark off the bench from Edwards in the defeat and fellow senior Giovanny Thompson started his senior campaign with the second double double of his career with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Sophomore Alec Colhoff had 18 points on the strength of five 3 pointers.
 
The Kangaroos (1-0) were able to land three players in double digits including Cedric Hudson with 19, plus Brian Baehl and Justin Wade each added 11 to lead Austin College.
 
After a 10-2 run to end the first half, the visitors seized a 37-31 halftime lead. The 'Roos extended the margin to as much as 11 but a resilient LeTourneau squad came back with eight unanswered points to cut the deficit to 42-39 with 14:54 to play.


Later in the half, the YellowJackets took a 54-53 lead when Colhoff hit a jumper with 8:04 to play. It was the first lead for LeTourneau since a 21-20 advantage with 9:38 to play in the first half. The game remained close for the rest of the contest.

Austin College went back in front, later in the half, when Hudson made a layup with 6:24 to play for a 60-59 lead. Three times, LeTourneau would cut the deficit to one in the final minutes. A last-second 3 pointer by LETU junior Jeff Martin fell short and allowed the Kangaroos to come away with the season opener.
 
It will be a quick turnaround for the YellowJackets, who will face Millsaps College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Jackson, Mississippi.