MEMPHIS, Tenn. (October 24, 2026) – The LeMoyne Owen College men's basketball team opened its 2026–27 season Saturday evening inside Bruce Johnson Hall, falling 73–62 to Fisk University in front of 684 fans during the college's Homecoming celebration.
Despite the loss, the Magicians showed promising signs in their season debut, particularly on the glass, while receiving strong offensive performances from Alan King Jr. and Joshua Whitehurst, who finished with 15 points apiece.
The Bulldogs opened the contest with a pair of three-pointers from Kaleb Jeffries, but LeMoyne Owen quickly settled into the match-up. Kyle Houston connected from beyond the arc as the Magicians began establishing their offensive rhythm.
LOC remained within striking distance throughout the opening half, shooting 43.8 percent from the field while using its physicality to generate additional possessions. However, Fisk's efficient perimeter shooting allowed the Bulldogs to carry a 39–34 advantage into halftime.
The Magicians opened the second half looking to erase the deficit. A free throw from Njoroge Nganga and a basket from Whitehurst trimmed Fisk's lead to 40–37, putting LOC within one possession of tying the contest.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs responded with a timely offensive surge, eventually extending their advantage to 60–45 with just over seven minutes remaining.
LeMoyne Owen continued battling, but second-half shooting struggles made a comeback difficult. The Magicians connected on just eight of their 21 field goal attempts after halftime, including a 1-for-10 performance from three-point range.
King provided one of the evening's brightest performances, scoring 15 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, including three triples. Whitehurst matched his scoring output with 15 points off the bench, providing an important offensive spark.
Defensively and on the glass, Marial Malek made his presence felt throughout the contest. The veteran forward pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, while contributing six points.
Houston added eight points, four rebounds and two steals, while Nganga chipped in seven points. Gerrard Living contributed six points and seven rebounds.
One of the Magicians' biggest positives came in the rebounding department. LOC out rebounded Fisk 32–24, including a commanding 16–7 advantage on the offensive glass. That effort translated into 17 second-chance points, compared to just eight for the Bulldogs.
However, turnovers and shooting efficiency ultimately separated the two teams. Fisk capitalized on 18 LOC turnovers, converting them into 24 points while holding a 20–4 advantage in fast-break scoring.
The Bulldogs also shot 56.5 percent from the field, led by Jeffries' game-high 26 points and five three-pointers. Meanwhile, the Magicians finished shooting 41.5 percent overall and converted just 13 of their 28 free-throw attempts.
While the Homecoming crowd did not get the result it hoped for, Saturday's contest provided an early glimpse of the Magicians' potential. Their rebounding effort and offensive contributions from multiple players offer encouraging building blocks as the team continues developing its chemistry.
Up Next
The Magicians will return to action November 13–14 as LeMoyne Owen hosts the GSC/SIAC Crossover inside Bruce Johnson Hall. LOC will welcome Mississippi Christian University on Friday, November 13, before facing Delta State University on Saturday, November 14. Both contests are scheduled to tip off at 7:00 p.m.
LeMoyne Owen will look to capitalize on its home-court advantage and build momentum as the Magicians pursue their first victory of the young season.
