GLENDALE, Ariz. – The LC State Men's Basketball team, receiving votes in the national poll, faced a tough challenge out of the gate in No. 2 Arizona Christian on the road. The Warriors rallied from a 12-point deficit at the half to tie the game late but ultimately fell to the Firestorm 79-61.
Seniors
Grayson Hunt and
John Lustig were key for the Warriors on both sides of the ball with a combined 23 points and 15 rebounds. Newcomer
Elijah Kersey put together a strong Warrior debut.
"Tough first game against an elite opponent," head coach
Austin Johnson said. "We definitely struggled with ACU's athleticism and pressure. We had some success when we were able to make it a half-court game. Ultimately our inability to put the ball in the hoop really hampered our ability to hang in there down the stretch and keep them out of transition. Hopefully we can learn from good/bad of this game and improve in a hurry."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Baskets by
Josh Salguero, Hunt and Kersey kept the score close early with the Warriors down 7-6 at 13:41. Kersey added a 3-pointer, but ACU surged ahead with a 12-point run for a 24-9 lead at 7:57. Lustig sparked a Warrior rally of nine points with tallies by Hunt,
Trevor Manning and
Brandon Suber to cut the deficit to 27-20 with four minutes to play in the half.
Hunt scored twice in the final three minutes and a free throw by Lustig had the difference at 37-25 at the break.
A 3-pointer by
Jamare' Childs sparked the LC State offense in the second half and Lustig started a seven-point swing, aided by a 3 by
Peyton Nordland and a bucket by Hunt, to cut the margin to 41-37 by 16:30. A layup by Manning evened the contest 46-46 at 13:07 and a triple by Kersey gave the Warriors a 52-51 edge at 10:25.
Arizona Christian answered with its own run of seven straight points to regain the lead with eight minutes to play. Salguero scored back-to-back baskets to cut the deficit back to 59-56 at 6:51, but the Firestorm rallied to grow the margin back to double digits and close out the contest.
STAT RECAP
Hunt led the Warriors with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. Lustig led LC State in rebounds with eight to go with 11 points and a team-high five assists. The seniors each blocked two shots.
Kersey scored 10 points in his LC State debut on a 4-for-6 night. Salguero and Manning each added eight points and Nordland grabbed five rebounds.
LC State had 34 points off the bench, led by Hunt and Kersey, and had 16 assists on 25 made baskets.
UP NEXT
LC State will play its home opener on Wednesday, Oct. 29, against Northwest Indian College. Tipoff in the P1FCU Activity Center is set for 6 p.m.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
