The LOC men's basketball team picked up a nail biting win in a wire to wire homecoming finale. 

Just a season ago the Magicians lost to Philander at home in quite the spoiler, considering it was homecoming. What a difference a year makes. With a new head coach at the helm and a barrage of fresh faces, this year's team seamed much more poised, and we're better defensively. 

Magicians Head Coach Faragi Phillips has preached to his guys all pre-season long that their journey starts here, they've bought in. In Saturday evening's game the two teams went back in fourth all night long with the Magicians taking a 34-33 lead into the half. The second half was just as close with the Magicians getting a huge boost from the home crowd in a packed Bruce-Johnson Hall. LOC put together an impressive defensive performance but had no answer for Philander Smith guard Xavier Alexander, who finished with 33 points and provided more than half his team's scoring. Despite his stellar play, he wouldn't have enough to outlast LOC sharp shooter Kyle Houston. Houston hit a back breaking three pointer to give the Magicians a six point lead with about a minute and half left in the ball game. The 6'2 junior guard led the Magicians with 14 points and connected on three of his eight three point attempts. Those close to the program have already started campaigning for Houston as one of the nation's premier shooters. Also in double figures for the Magicians were guards Andrew Walker II (12) and Jeremiah Miller (11). 

The Magicians would go on to finish the game with multiple big plays on both sides of the ball, and squeeze past Philander giving them a 1-0 pre-season start. The team will return to action this Friday for exhibition game number two at Dillard University.