Davis and his YellowJackets (3-0, 2-0) are in unfamiliar territory becoming the first LeTourneau men’s basketball team to start the season 3-0 since the 1978-79 season when the team started 6-0. The Jackets used another strong defensive effort to down the Mountaineers (0-3, 0-3).
Schreiner held a 52-44 lead with 11:02 remaining in the second half when Davis’ defense put the clamps on the Mountaineers. Over the next 10 minutes, Schreiner could only muster seven points, all on free throws, while LeTourneau gradually took control of the game by scoring 20 points in the same time span.
The play that seemed to spark the Jackets was when senior Travis Bankett was intentionally fouled on a break away and went to the line and made both free throws. Sophomore Jay Burnett followed that with a backdoor lay up off a nice pass from freshman Dusty Evers. Less than a minute later, Bankett drilled a three-pointer on the break to give the Jackets their first lead in nearly eight minutes. The team would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way as Burnett hit three clutch jumpers in the final three minutes to prevent the Mountaineers a chance to win the game.
While LETU won the game, the Schreiner defense caused them many problems and forced 24 turnovers. Fortunately, the Jackets were able to force 26 turnovers and also converted 17-of-19 foul shots attempts compared to the Mountaineers making just 14-of-28 from the line.
Evers led the Jackets with 19 points, six rebounds and four steals while senior Reese Lantrip came up big off the bench again with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists. LeTourneau shot 22-of-52 from the floor and made 6-of-18 three-point attempts.
Jonathan Young was the only Mountaineer to reach double figures in scoring as he made 9-of-15 shots and finished with a game high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds, four steals and four assists. Schreiner finished the game 21-of-50 from the floor and 7-of-28 from three-point range. The two teams each tallied 33 rebounds in the game.
The YellowJackets next game is at ASC rival McMurry University on Thursday night beginning at approximately 7:30. The game can be listened to online at www.tsrnsports.com.
NOTES: Dusty Evers is the only LeTourneau player to have scored in double figures in each game this year and leads the team with a 16.3 points per game average.
Schreiner University vs LeTourneau University 11/28/05 8:00 at Longview, Texas - Solheim Arena At Longview, Texas - Solheim Arena LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY 67, SCHREINER UNIVERSITY 63 SCHREINER UNIVERSITY (0-3, 0-3) Jonathan Young 9-15 2-6 22; Kevin Deans 2-6 4-6 9; Joseph Davis 2-4 3-5 7; Lance Hrncir 2-6 0-2 6; Brandon Burke 2-8 2-5 6; Justin Land 2-3 0-0 5; Jarrell Williams 1-1 1-2 3; Ricky Beasley 1-5 0-0 3; Travis Clark 0-1 2-2 2; Ronnie Barney 0-1 0-0 0; Chris Alvarado 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-50 14-28 63. LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY (3-0, 2-0) Dusty Evers 7-11 4-5 19; Reese Lantrip 3-7 2-2 10; Travis Bankett 2-3 4-4 10; Jay Burnett 4-9 0-1 8; Joe Packard 1-2 5-5 7; Casey Sitton 1-3 2-2 5; Marcus Coleman 2-5 0-0 4; James Williams 1-3 0-0 2; Dewones Smith 1-6 0-0 2; Hal Hawkins 0-0 0-0 0; Jonathan Painter 0-0 0-0 0; Cal Balmos 0-0 0-0 0; Jeff Mason 0-0 0-0 0; Jacob Butler 0-1 0-0 0; Barry Thomas 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 17-19 67. Schreiner University.......... 32 31 - 63 LeTourneau University......... 34 33 - 67 3-point goals-Schreiner University 7-28 (Lance Hrncir 2-6; Jonathan Young 2-6; Ricky Beasley 1-4; Justin Land 1-2; Kevin Deans 1-4; Ronnie Barney 0-1; Travis Clark 0-1; Brandon Burke 0-3; Joseph Davis 0-1), LeTourneau University 6-18 (Reese Lantrip 2-3; Travis Bankett 2-2; Casey Sitton 1-2; Dusty Evers 1-2; James Williams 0-1; Dewones Smith 0-4; Barry Thomas 0-2; Jay Burnett 0-2). Fouled out--Schreiner University-Jonathan Young, LeTourneau University-None. Rebounds-Schreiner University 33 (Joseph Davis 8; Jonathan Young 8), LeTourneau University 33 (Reese Lantrip 8). Assists-Schreiner University 12 (Joseph Davis 6), LeTourneau University 14 (Reese Lantrip 4). Total fouls-Schreiner University 19, LeTourneau University 22. A-600 LeTourneau starts the season 3-0 for the first time since 1978-79 season.