Feb. 1, 2007

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Senior Brandon Chappell and junior Darren Hopkins both set career highs with 29 and 26 points, respectively, leading Lamar University to an 89-82 win over Nicholls State in Southland Conference men's basketball action Thursday night at the Montagne Center.

Lamar snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 9-12 overall and 3-4 in SLC play. Nicholls State lost its fourth straight game and dropped to 3-19 overall and 2-6 in SLC play. The Cardinals hit the road for two straight beginning with Saturday's 7 p.m. game at Southeastern Louisiana.

Trailing 69-66, Hopkins converted an old-fashioned three-point play with a layup and a free throw to tie the game for the fifth time in the second half. After Adonis Gray hit a pair of free throws to put Nicholls State up 71-69, Hopkins answered with a 3-pointer at 4:23 to give the Cardinals the lead for good at 72-71.

Stefan Blaszczynski hit a pair of free throws that pulled the Colonels within two, 75-73, with 3:05 remaining in the game. Lamar responded with a 9-0 run to push the lead to 84-73 with 31 seconds left. Lamar shot a blistering 60.7 percent from the field in the first half, including 64.7 percent from 3-point range, in taking a 46-40 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Chappell, whose previous career-high was 20 points, was 10-of-13 from the field, including 9-of-11 from 3-point range. His nine 3-pointers tied the Montagne Center record, which he shares with Matt Sundblad and Quincy Dockins, and the nine 3-pointers is tied for third most in a game in school history. Chappell also dished out seven assists and had two steals.

Hopkins was 9-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and was 4-of-6 from the free throw line. He grabbed five rebounds and had three assists. Matthew Barrow added 11 points and dished out a career-high nine assists. Lawrence Nwevo came off the bench to score 11 points and grab six rebounds.

Lamar shot 59.3 percent from the field (32-of-54) and 64 percent from 3-point range (16-of-25) from 3-point range, both of which were season highs, and shot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the free throw line.

Ryan Bathie scored a career-high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range, and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. James Dixon came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Nicholls State shot 43.9 percent from the field (29-of-66), 29.7 percent (11-of-37) from 3-point range and was a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line. The Colonels outrebounded the Cardinals 33 to 27, which led to an 11-7 advantage in second chance points. Nicholls also forced 17 Lamar turnovers which led to a 29-18 advantage in points off turnovers.