A strong defensive effort propelled the Culver-Stockton College men's basketball team to a season-opening 78-56 victory over regional rival Hannibal-LaGrange University Thursday night at Charles Field House.

The victory also gave head coach Dorian Hobbs, Jr., his first victory as a collegiate head coach.

The Wildcats looked like they were on their way to an easy victory, jumping out to an 11-2 lead in the first half and leading 29-11 with five minutes left in the half.

However, the Trojans came storming back and whittled the lead down to 35-31 on a basket by Khalib Becton with two seconds in the half.

HLGU shot 54.5 percent from the field to keep the game within reach and not allowing C-SC to pull away. The Wildcats, after the quick start, cooled down and shot just 39 percent in the opening half.

The second half started out as if it was going to be a street fight. The Trojans took their only lead of the game at 38-37 less than two minutes into the half. C-SC regained the lead in the ensuing possession and never trailed again.

With the score 41-40 Wildcats after a basket by HLGU's Chris Cross with 17 minutes left in the game, the Wildcats put the clamps on defensively, outscoring the Trojans 37-16 the rest of the game.

 In fact, the C-SC defense allowed the Trojans to score just seven points over a 13:30 stretch of the second half. The Wildcat defense limited HLGU to nine field goals and 30 percent shooting in the half.

Offensively, the Wildcats picked up the pace as well, connecting on 51.5 percent of their field goal attempts in the second 20 minutes. The Wildcats were 17 for 33 in the half.

Seth Larson led the offensive attack for the Wildcats with 19 points, while Robert Fry II tallied 18 markers. CaRondis Harris-Anderson came off the bench to notch 11 points.

C-SC out-rebounded the Trojans 37-32 in the contest with Quinten Blackburn grabbing a team-best seven caroms. Larson finished with six rebounds.

The Wildcats (1-0) return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 8, on the road at Columbia College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Columbia, Mo.