Dec. 14, 2012

Current Lamar Game Notes

EDINBURG - Lamar University will conclude its current three-game road trip Saturday evening at 7 p.m. when the men's basketball team will square off against former conference opponent Texas-Pan American from UTPA Fieldhouse.

Lamar, off to a 1-9 start this season, will also be playing its 11th and final contest away from the Montagne Center to open the season. The game will be broadcast live on KLVI 560 AM.

The Cardinals are coming off an 85-68 loss at Baylor on Wednesday which followed a 77-60 loss at Louisiana-Lafayette one night earlier. While Lamar couldn't pull the upset at Baylor, the Cardinals were able to find their shooting touch against the Bears. Lamar shot 49.2 percent from the floor in the game, including 51.6 percent aim in the second half.

The Cardinals handed out a season-high 23 assists and committed just 14 turnovers in the Baylor game as they continue to look for improvement against one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

Junior forward Amos Wilson had his best game as a Cardinal, finishing with a team-high 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Wilson added five rebounds and three assists. Rhon Mitchell had his second straight strong game, finishing with 19 points and five boards. Senior Donley Minor added 17 points and a career-high seven assists for the Cards.

This will be the 70th meeting between Lamar and UTPA with the Cardinals holding a 41-28 series advantage. The two schools competed as conference foes for four seasons in the American South Conference and for seven in the Sun Belt Conference.

Lamar and Texas-Pan American last met on Dec. 5, 2011, with the Cardinals winning 60-49 on the strength of a Montagne Center record 27-rebound advantage. Lamar took an 8-6 lead in the contest and never trailed again, including a 31-22 lead at the half.

Lamar outrebounded the Broncs 55-28, including grabbing 20 offensive rebounds and converted them into 15 second chance points. The Cards shot just 31.6 percent from the floor, but went to the free throw line 31 times and connected on 21.

Brandon Davis led the Cardinals with 16 points, scoring 13 in the first half. Mike James added 10 points and Devon Lamb finished with 14 rebounds.

Jared Maree led the Broncs with 13 points. Brandon Provost and Nick Weiermiller each added 10 for UTPA.

Following the Baylor game, Lamar is averaging 56.0 points per game and allowing 77.0 to its opponents. The Broncs, who are 3-7 following their 92-64 win over Eureka College on Thursday, are scoring just under 66 points per game and giving up nearly 71.

Mitchell has scored 40 points over Lamar's last two games and is averaging a team-high 11.8 points per game to go along with 5.0 rebounds per contest. Minor is adding 9.6 points and 2.8 assists per game for the Cardinals, while senior forward Stan Brown has accounted for 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Senior guards Brandon Provost and Aaron Urbanus lead the Broncs in scoring at 15.5 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Provost is adding five rebounds and three assists per game and Urbanus is contributing 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals a night. Junior transfer Justin Leathers leads the team in rebounding at 5.2 per game to go along with 7.0 points.

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