Box Score Jan. 8, 2011
Box Score
CONWAY, Ark. - Junior guard Devon Lamb established new career-highs with 23 points and 13 rebounds as Lamar University opened the 2010-11 Southland Conference men's basketball season with a resounding 99-75 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at the Farris Center.
Lamar, which shot 52.0 percent from the floor in the game, evened its overall record at 7-7 and moved to 7-0 all-time against the Bears (4-10, 0-1). The Cardinals will be at home on Wednesday night as the back half of a doubleheader against longtime rival McNeese State.
A key stretch for the Cardinals came at the end of the first half after Lamar let an eight point lead slip away and the Bears tie the game at 33-33 with 2:05 to play. The Cardinals closed the half on an 11-1 run, capped by a Mike James 3-pointer with four seconds to play, to open a 44-34 lead at the break.
The Bears got to within seven points at 51-44 with 17 minutes to play, but the Cardinals would let them get no closer in blowing the game wide open. Senior guard Kendrick Harris knocked down a jumper and a 3-pointer on Lamar's next two possessions to open the lead back to 12, and the Bears would not get it under double figures the rest of the way.
"I think our guys understood the importance of this game," said LU head coach Steve Roccaforte. "We get to go back to 0-0 and have a chance to win a championship and that is our goal.."
While James did not come close to the school record 52 points he had on Tuesday night against Louisiana College, the junior guard still scored 13 of his 22 points in the first half when Lamar need a scoring boost. James shot an efficient 8-of-14 from the free throw line and added four rebounds and four assists.
"He's a really good player," noted Roccaforte about James. "I think as he's matured, his game has gotten better for us and he's capable of putting up big performances."
Lamar dominated the glass all game, outrebounding the bigger UCA team 51-25. Included in that number were 21 offensive rebounds for the Cards which translated into a 21-10 advantage in second half points. Lamar scored over half of its points, 52, in the paint.
Lamb, who opened his LU career with 21 points against Lyon College, bested that total on Saturday by hitting 10-of-15 shots from the floor. Lamb pulled down five of his rebounds off the offensive glass, and was active defensively as he finished with two blocked shots and two steals. It is the second straight double-double for Lamar who finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds against Louisiana College on Tuesday.
Charlie Harper added 12 points and six rebounds off the Lamar bench after scoring a total of seven points over Lamar's previous three games. Senior Coy Custer was also a key contributor off the bench, finishing with 10 points and four boards.
UCA got 19 points from leading scorer Imad Qahwash, but the senior guard from Ontario, was just 5-of-14 from the floor. Dewan Clayborn and Mike Pouncy each added 13 for the Bears who will visit Beaumont on Jan. 22.
LAMAR
