The YellowJackets put together another strong first half shooting 48 percent from the floor and forcing the Eagles into 13 turnovers. Sophomores Joe Packard and Jay Burnett each pumped in 10 first half points for LeTourneau and gave the team a 35-29 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Cook brothers took over the game for the Eagles. Point guard Jerid Cook, saddled with foul trouble in the first half, scored 15 second half points and Adrian Cook added 11 second half points, including two crucial three-pointers in the final 2:15 of the game.
The YellowJackets staged a furious rally in the closing moments of the ball game. Trailing by seven points, junior Marcus Coleman buried a three-pointer in the corner with nine seconds left in the game. LETU fouled on the inbounds play and the Eagles missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Sophomore Casey Sitton rushed the ball up the floor and was fouled with four seconds left and converted both ends of a 1-and-1. LeTourneau fouled once again and the Dallas Eberly made 1-of-2 from the line. Sitton’s running three-point attempt at the buzzer missed long and the Eagles came away with the victory.
LETU freshman center Dusty Evers led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed six boards. The Jackets shot 49 percent from the floor and were 8-for-15 from three-point range. Unfortunately, the Eagles held a 37-30 advantage on the glass and each team committed 18 turnovers.
The Eagles had four players score in double figures. Eberly led the team with 17 points while Randy Hill added 13 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and four steals.
LeTourneau returns to the court on Thursday night against American Southwest Conference East Division rival Austin College at 7:30. The game can be heard online at www.tsrnsports.com.
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Rhema Bible College vs LeTourneau University 02/13/06 7:30 at Longview, TX - Solheim Arena At Longview, TX - Solheim Arena RHEMA BIBLE COLLEGE 71, LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY 68 RHEMA BIBLE COLLEGE (9-18) Dallas Eberly 5-12 3-5 17; Jerid Cook 5-10 2-2 15; Adrian Cook 4-13 2-2 13; Randy Hill 5-11 3-6 13; Brent Schiefelbein 2-4 2-3 6; Jacquari Wills 2-5 1-3 5; Myron Fair 1-2 0-0 2; Justin Storm 0-0 0-0 0; Derek Ward 0-1 0-0 0; Chuck Hill 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 13-21 71. LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY (7-16) Dusty Evers 7-16 2-2 18; Jay Burnett 5-10 1-2 11; Travis Bankett 4-9 1-3 10; Joe Packard 3-6 3-4 10; Marcus Coleman 3-4 0-0 8; Casey Sitton 1-2 2-2 4; Reese Lantrip 1-1 1-1 4; Cal Balmos 1-2 0-0 3; Jacob Butler 0-1 0-1 0; James Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-51 10-15 68. Rhema Bible College........... 29 42 - 71 LeTourneau University......... 35 33 - 68 3-point goals-Rhema Bible College 10-25 (Dallas Eberly 4-10; Adrian Cook 3-10; Jerid Cook 3-4; Derek Ward 0-1), LeTourneau University 8-15 (Marcus Coleman 2-2; Dusty Evers 2-2; Joe Packard 1-1; Cal Balmos 1-2; Travis Bankett 1-6; Reese Lantrip 1-1; Jay Burnett 0-1). Fouled out--Rhema Bible College-None, LeTourneau University-None. Rebounds-Rhema Bible College 37 (Randy Hill 14), LeTourneau University 30 (Dusty Evers 6). Assists-Rhema Bible College 14 (Randy Hill 5), LeTourneau University 14 (Jay Burnett 5). Total fouls-Rhema Bible College 18, LeTourneau University 20. A-200