THIBODAUX, La. – The Lamar University men's basketball team shot 50 percent in the second half to pick up a 12-point Southland Conference-opening victory over Nicholls, 79-67, Saturday afternoon at Stopher Gym. The Cardinals moved to 9-4 on the season and start the year 1-0 in conference play for the second-straight year. The Colonels fall to 4-10 overall and 0-1 in league play.
 
The Cardinals finished the day 28-of-67 (.418) from the field, after shooting 50 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes. LU knocked down 7-of-17 (.412) attempts from the three-point range, while holding Nicholls to a 15-of-47 (.319) performance for the game, and just five field goals in the first half. Big Red also outrebounded their hosts by 12, 46-34, which included 15 offensive rebounds.
 
In what has become a common trend for the Red and White, the Cards' depth overwhelmed Nicholls by a 48-13 advantage. Freshman Nick Garth came off the bench to lead LU with 17 points, while sophomore Kevin Booze added 12 points also in a reserve role.
 
"It is always important to get that first conference win out of the way," said head coach Tic Price. "I thought we were very strong on the defensive end, holding them to less than 32 percent. I thought our bench was remarkable. Nick Garth played well, Dontavious Sears gave us some quality minutes and Kevin Booze hit some key shots for us. I thought we also did a good job with game management down the stretch as well."
 
Neither team was lighting up the scoreboard early as the Cardinals missed their first four attempts in the paint. After Nicholls' JaDante' Frye knocked down a three-pointer – the game's first basket – the LU defense clamped down. The Cardinals held Nicholls to just three makes in their next 19 attempts, as Nicholls finished the half 5-of-21 (.238) from the field. Junior Lincoln Davis put LU on the scoreboard with a dunk at the 17:22 mark of the opening half.
 
The Cardinals never stopped moving on the defensive end of the floor recording six steals, forcing 11 first half turnovers and outrebounding the Nicholls, 22-18.
 
LU was 11-of-33 (.333) in the opening half – including a 3-of-8 (.375) performance from beyond the arc – as they took a six-point advantage into the locker room, 30-24. Senior Quan Jones and Garth led LU at the intermission with seven points, while freshman Dorian Chatman added five points and pulled down eight rebounds.
 
The Cardinals built a nine-point advantage, 44-35, with less than 14 minutes to play in the contest when Garth buried a three from the right wing and got fouled. He completed the four-point play to give the Cardinals a 13-point lead. Following the four-point play, the Colonels cut the LU lead to single digits only one other time as Big Red pushed its advantage to as many as 18 points in the second half.
 
Senior Dontavious Sears was the third Cardinal to score double figures off the bench Saturday. He ended the day with 10 points and seven rebounds, while junior Preston Mattingly chipped in five points and pulled down eight rebounds. He also dished out three assists in the victorious effort.
 
Frye led the Colonels with 17 points, while Shane Rillieux added 12. Nicholls' T.J. Carpenter scored 10 points but did the majority of his damage from the free throw line (7-of-10) for the Colonels.
 
The Cardinals return to action Monday when they host New Orleans. The game against the Privateers is slated to tip off at 7:30 p.m. from the Montagne Center, and will follow the LU women's basketball game. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking here.
 
-LU CARDINALS-