BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team (10-13/2-9 Southland) went 8:41 without scoring a point in the latter stages of the second half, a drought that would prove costly as Incarnate Word rallied to beat the Cardinals, 74-71, Saturday afternoon in the Montagne Center. In a sad twist of fate, LU overcame its recent first-half struggles by jumping out to an 11-0 lead, but it was San Antonio's version of the Cardinals who found a way to pull out a late victory.
 
After freshman Boaz Williams converted an and-one to give the Red and White a 61-59 advantage, LU responded by going ice cold from the field not scoring another point until the 1:10 mark on a layup from Dorian Chatman. It was an eight-minute, 41-second stretch that saw the Cards go 0-for-11 from the field, 0-of-3 from the stripe and turn the ball over twice.
 
"You have to give credit to Incarnate Word tonight," said head coach Tic Price. "They made the plays down the stretch when they had to have them. We went 13 possessions and didn't score in the second half, and missed the front end of three separate one-and-ones. That's the difference in the game. That is the whole story."
 
After shooting nearly 42 percent in the first half, LU's shooting touch went south in the final 20 minutes. The Cardinals could only muster an 11-of-34 (.324) performance in the second half and finished the game 26-of-70 (.371). LU held a four-rebound edge on the glass, including 17 offensive rebounds which they converted into 18 points. Big Red also did a better job of taking care of the basketball Saturday recording only 10 turnovers, but UIW was up to the task as well only turning it over 12 times.
 
UIW was able to hang around during the Cardinals early run, and eventually grab the lead an hold onto it due to their ability to get the free throw line. San Antonio's version of the Cardinals were 24-of-28 (.857) from the stripe, while the Red and White only attempted 15 shots (11-of-15/.733).
 
"We got tight down the stretch," said Price. "When you go through a stretch like we have its common for players to lose their confidence, and it begins to take something out of you when you don't win these types of games. Incarnate Word is one of the top free throw shooting teams in the country. We knew we had to keep them out of the paint and off the line tonight and we didn't execute the game plan."
 
The Cardinals finished the night with three players in double figures led by sophomore Nick Garth. The Houston, Texas native scored 14 points, while senior Quan Jones added 13. Sophomore Kevin Booze came off the bench to score 11 points, while freshman Josh Nzeakor added six and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
UIW ended the game with four players in double digits. Jontrell Walker scored 17 points, and Kyle Hittle and Sam Burmeister added 11.
 
The Cardinals connected on five of their first eight attempts to take an 11-0 lead to start the game. While LU jumped out of the gate quickly, it was the other Cardinals who were struggling. UIW converted only one of its first six attempts but they never panicked.
 
After Garth buried a triple to give LU a 19-7 lead, UIW began to chip away at the advantage. The visitors went on a 15-5 run over the next four minutes of the game to pull within two, 24-22, with 8:39 remaining. UIW tied the game at the 5:05 mark on a three-pointer by Mitchell Badillo and took their first lead of the game on the very next possession.
 
The team from San Antonio built their lead to five points before LU rallied to go into the locker room tied at 43. Garth sent the teams into the locker room all tied up after getting fouled on a three-pointer as time expired. He missed the shot but stepped up to the line and knocked down all three free throws.
 
As if trying to repeat their start from the opening half, the Cardinals managed to build an eight-point lead less than four minutes into the second half but UIW responded by cutting the lead back down to two points. The rest of the game would see neither team gain a lead larger than five points.
 
After reclaiming a one-point advantage, UIW added to their lead when Walker recorded a steal and found Simi Socks at the other end of the floor to give UIW a three-point lead, 59-56. LU responded by scoring the next five points to take a 61-59 lead, but that is when the bottom fell out for the LU offense being held scoreless until 70 seconds remaining in the game.
 
UIW closed out the final 1:10 going 10-of-10 from the free throw line, not allowing Big Red to get any closer than three points down the stretch.
 
The Cards return to action Monday looking to put an end to their current six-game slide when they take on Abilene Christian. The rematch with the Wildcats will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center.
 
-LU CARDINALS-