by Hammond, , La. – Senior Danquez Dawsey scored a Lamar career-high 19 points but a late run by Southeastern Louisiana cost the Cardinals down the stretch. The Lions held on for an 81-79 victory from the University Center Monday evening in Hammond.
The Cardinals finished the night shooting 28-of-62 (.452) from the field, including nine three-pointers. Lamar outshot Southeastern who finished the night 28-of-63 (.444), with seven triples. The Lions also outrebounded LU, 44-29, on the night.
Lamar University opened the game knocking down three of its first four before hitting a cold spell. The Cardinals missed their next five attempts and Southeastern took advantage building a five-point lead. The Cardinals stopped the run with a short 8-3 run of their own to get back within two.
Lamar began to heat back up hitting eight of their next 14, including four three-pointers, but the Lions were able to match Big Red during that stretch. While Lamar was never able to grab the lead back in the opening half, Southeastern could build no greater than a two-possession advantage.
The Lions took a six-point lead into the locker room, 40-34, after shooting 14-of-32 (.438) from the field. LU finished the half knocking down 14-of-29 (.483) in the opening 20 minutes, but Southeastern held the advantage on the glass, 21-12.
Lamar tied the game at 42 with two Ja’Sean Jackson free throws – and aided by a four-point play from Marmolejos – but the Lions responded to the neutralizer with a 10-2 run to take an eight-point lead.
The Cardinals would fight back rattling off a 15-6 run to take their first lead since early in the opening half on a Dawsey three, 63-62. The run was aided by a Janko Bulajic three-point play. Unfortunately, the Lions would respond by retaking a three-point lead just moments later. That lead would be part of a 15-7 SLU run that would see the Lions take a seven-point advantage.
The Cardinals erased the deficit on what amounted to a five-point possession. After Marmolejos got a breakaway layup Errol White stole the inbound pass leading to a Hamilton and-one. Hamilton got Lamar within two at the free throw line, but the Cardinals did not reclaim the lead in the final minute of action.
