EUNICE, La. – It was a tale of two halves for LSU Eunice as the Bengals could not overcome a cold first half in a 93-90 setback to Mississippi Gulf Coast CC on Monday at the HPRE Center.  The Bengals (2-2) would claw out of a 20-point first half hole but could never regain the lead after going ahead in the first few minutes of the game.
 
After trailing 57-38 at intermission, LSUE came out red hot from the locker rooms.  The Bengals cut down the deficit quickly thanks to a 16-4 run in just more than three minutes.  Alonzo Linton (Lynn, MA, Lynn English HS) would score seven of his 11 points in that spurt to help LSUE creep back, 61-54.
 
Mississippi Gulf Coast would ward off the Bengals from getting within a one possession game until the final few minutes of the contest.  Bryce Roberts (Bossier City, LA, Parkway HS) would finally tie the game up with a transition three pointer with 2:09 left to knot it at 90-90.  After a free throw and a made basket by the Bulldogs, the Bengals had a final shot to try to force overtime, but the three-point attempt would sail wide.
 
Isaiah Payne (Ville Platte, LA, Pine Prairie HS) was a major catalyst in the second half comeback for the Bengals.  The sophomore scored 18 of his game-high 28 points after intermission.  John Kenoye (Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Lee Academy (ME)) and Magok Manyang (Adelaide, Australia, Trinity College HS) provided strong play inside with the duo combining for 34 points and 19 rebounds. 

The second half made up for a tough start for LSUE.  The Bengals went 0-for-11 from three-point range in the first half, while allowing Gulf Coast to shoot 61 percent (25-for-41) from the floor.
 
Melvion Flanagan paced the Bulldogs with 25 points.
 
LSU Eunice will face off with another Region 23 school on Thursday as the Bengals venture to the Magnolia State to tackle Southwest Mississippi CC.  The action from Summit is scheduled to begin at 6:00PM.