An all-around team effort propelled the LeTourneau University men's basketball team to a 63-62 win over host Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday in Belton. The win in Belton is the first in program history for the YellowJackets, who improve to 5-9 overall and 3-3 in the American Southwest Conference. Plus, it is only the third win in 20 previous matchups of the two schools.
LeTourneau picked up contributions across the roster with eight-different scorers, seven-different players with an assist and seven-different players with a rebound which all added to a winning effort. "I am really proud of our team for the grit that they played with throughout the game," said LETU head coach Dan Miller. "Zack (Walker), Caleb (Loggins) and Christian (Seidl) really stepped up and didn't play like freshmen. This is a win for the whole team and the program, which was deserved."
Seidl, a freshman from Lake Travis, led the YellowJackets with 12 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal. He was joined in double figures by senior C.J. Edwards and Jeff Martin, who each scored 11. Also on the scoresheet, Loggins, a freshman from Lewisville, had three points, four rebounds and three blocked shots; in addition, Walker, a freshman from Splendora, hit three 3-pointers in the win.
Plus, senior Zakarius Wells had a hand in the win with four points, five rebounds, two assists and four steals. But, not to be lost in the mix was senior Giovanny Thompson, who epitomized the all-around effort with an eight point, nine rebound, two blocks and three steals effort.
Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-8, 0-2 ASC) was led by Avery Polchinski, who had a game-high 17 points to go along with five assists. Daniel Mills added 11 points for the Cru.
LeTourneau built a lead as large as 17, 32-15, in the first half until the Cru ended the half on a 12-2 run to cut the LETU margin to 34-27. The seven-point lead at half for LeTourneau was only its third of the season. Seidl had seven of his 12 in the first 20 minutes to lead the YellowJackets. Defensively, the YellowJackets had forced 15 UMHB turnovers as LETU had a 17-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
UMHB eventually would take its first lead of the night with 12:05 to go when Polchinski hit his second 3-pointer of the night. The Cru stretched the lead to as much as seven, but there was still a fire and a comeback in the eyes of the visitors from Longview.
Trailing 56-49 with 8:37 to go, an 11-2 run put the YellowJackets ahead 60-58 with 2:20 to go. Again, Polchinski had the answer to the LETU threat with a lay-up to tie the contest at 60 with 2:01 to play. Then, LETU regained the lead when Martin made one of two free throws and Seidl added a lay-up for a 63-60 advantage. The YellowJackets remained in front for the remainder of the contest.
Next, Polchinski cut the deficit to two, 63-62 with 29 seconds left. After LETU missed a free throw and a 63-62 lead and six seconds to go, a drive by Mills for UMHB was disrupted by Thompson, who came away with a steal and was fouled with three seconds to play. However, the Cru had one more chance after two missed free throws, but a 3-pointer by Mills with less than a second left came up short.
LETU returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 9 in a 3 p.m. contest against Concordia University in Austin.