March 7, 2009
Box Score
Nicholls State outscored Lamar 9-0 during a crucial stretch midway through the second half to gain a seven point lead and pull away for a 50-36 win and ending the Cardinals' season.
Lamar (15-15, 5-10 Southland) was led by senior Jay Brown, who finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for his tenth double-double of the season. Junior Ashton Hall had five points before missing the final ten minutes with what appeared to be cramps. Freshman Anthony Miles also had five points to go along with four rebounds.
The Cardinals shot 28.6 percent from the floor - a season-low - and made just one 3-point field goal.
Coy Custer gave Lamar a 30-28 lead with a pair of free throws at 11:08 before Nicholls made its run. They made 2-of-4 free throws on a live ball foul and a technical on Lamar, before Anatoly Bose made two free throws and a 3-pointer around a Justin Payne fastbreak layup to put the Colonels ahead 37-30 with 8:10 remaining.
A jumper by Brown cut it to five but the Colonels stretched their lead to 50-34 on a 14-2 run over the next 4:43.
Bose finished with a game-high 14 points to lead Nicholls (19-10, 12-4) to its first-ever win over Lamar in Beaumont. The Colonels shot 27 percent and were only 4-of-16 from outside for 25 percent. They entered the game ranked 20t in the nation at 48.1 percent shooting.
The game was tied at 14 at the half, marking the fourth- and fifth-fewest points in a half by Lamar and its opponent in Cardinal history. The game had five ties and three lead changes. Lamar held its largest lead six minutes into the contest at 6-0 when they held Nicholls scoreless over the first 7:58.
