Feb. 5, 2011

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO - Lamar University sophomore Donley Minor scored a career-high 17 points on Saturday night at the UTSA Convocation Center, but the Cardinals could not overcome a strong finish by the host Roadrunners in a 70-64 Southland Conference basketball loss.

After trailing for much of the game, the Cardinals took their first lead since the 17:19 mark of the first half when junior guard Anthony Miles knocked down a jumper with 5:40 to play that gave LU a 56-55 lead. Miles hit a pair of free throws 32 seconds later to give Lamar its biggest lead of the game at 58-55.

The Roadrunners (12-9, 5-3 in the SLC) then turned to their senior star Devin Gibson. Gibson, who finished with 16 points and six assists, converted a three-point play to tie the game with 4:37.

Melvin Johnson III, last year's SLC Freshman of the Year, scored two of his career-high 24 points from the free throw line to give UTSA the lead for good at 60-58 with 3:52 to play. Sei Paye knocked down a corner 3-pointer to extend the lead to five.

Senior Coy Custer hit a layup on a nifty pass by Kendrick Harris and was fouled by Stephen Franklin. The 6-foot-11 Custer knocked down the free throw to cut the lead to 63-61 with 2:03 on the clock.

From that point on, the Roadrunners scored six straight points to open an eight point lead with 16 seconds on the clock. Minor hit one of his career-high five 3-pointers with 10 seconds to play to cut it to 69-64. Johnson III made 1-of-2 free throws with four seconds to close out the win.

Lamar, which fell to 9-13 overall and 3-5 in the league, will stay on the road for a Wednesday night game at Northwestern State which tips at 7.

The Cardinals shot 40.0 percent from the floor, but 29 of their 60 field goal attempts were from 3-point range where they made just 9-of-29. Lamar was outrebounded 43-39, but still led 26-18 in points in the paint.

The biggest advantage for UTSA came at the free throw line. The Roadrunners were 25-of-34 from the line in the game, while Lamar attempted just 13 free throws and made seven. The Cards made just 3-of-9 free throws in the second half.

The Cardinals trailed by as many as nine points in the first half. After falling behind 26-17 with 7:45 to play, Lamar closed the half on a 10-4 run and was down 30-27 at the break.

Miles, who came off the bench for the first time all season, finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. Custer added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench where Lamar had a 33-3 advantage over UTSA in points.

Devon Lamb, who leads the team in rebounding, finished with 10 boards and a career-high five blocks.

The Cards also got a boost from junior forward Charlie Harper who played for the first time since injuring his knee against McNeese State on Jan. 12. Harper, who prepped at San Antonio's Madison High School, finished with four points and three rebounds in 11 minutes of second half action.

LAMAR