Box Score Jan. 5, 2015 Box Score
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Lamar Cardinals (7-7/1-1 Southland) shot 51 percent from the field in the second half and rallied from a first-half double-digit deficit to take the lead, but New Orleans was able to hang on for the 72-67 victory Monday night at Lake Front Arena. The loss snapped Lamar's five-game win streak and dropped the Cardinals back to .500 in Southland play.
After hitting only seven field goals in the opening half, the Cardinals finished the night shooting 23-of-56 (.411) from the field, but the biggest stat of the night was rebounding. UNO beat Lamar on the glass, 44-30.
The UNO reserves also outscored Lamar's bench, 18-5.
"Give New Orleans all the credit in the world," said head coach Tic Price. "They came out with more intensity than us, especially in the first half. I know people will want to look at certain plays or missed opportunities but we got beat, 44-30, on the boards. You can't allow that to happen and win in this league. We will get that corrected."
After connecting on three of their first five attempts Lamar went cold missing their next seven. The Privateers took advantage of Lamar's cold shooting, and attacked the glass early (13-5 advantage in rebounds), to build an early seven-point lead, 14-7. The Cardinals offensive struggles continued throughout the opening half as Lamar ended the half with only seven field goals (28 percent).
Despite the offensive woes, Lamar's defense did not allow the Privateers to run and hide. The Cards held UNO to a 10-of-27 (.370) performance in the opening half, including a 3-of-10 (.300) mark from beyond the arc.
UNO led the Cardinals on the glass in the opening half, and turned that into a 10-3 advantage in second chance points.
Despite the slow start, the Cardinals got the ball back with 14 seconds remaining in the half trailing, 25-16, when junior Quan Jones drove the ball the length of the floor for a layup cutting the advantage to seven points with three seconds remaining, but UNO would hit a prayer at the buzzer to go into the locker room leading, 28-18.
Senior Tyran de Lattibeadiere led Lamar with nine first half points, but no other Lamar player had more than three in the opening 20 minutes.
Similar to Lamar's Southland-opening game against Nicholls, the Cardinals came out of the locker room a completely different team in the second half. Lamar opened the second half on a 12-1 run to reclaim their first advantage since the opening basket. The Cardinals hit 9-of-13 (.692) to start the half extending their run to 21-7 and taking a four-point lead, 39-35, with 13:07 remaining.
UNO responded with a 10-2 run to regain a four-point lead, with less than nine minutes remaining in the game. Sophomore Marcus Owens ended the run when he hit his first three-pointer of the game to pull Lamar back within one, 45-44.
Following the Owens' three-pointer the Cardinals were never able to reclaim the advantage pulling within a point on several different occasions. UNO was unable to shut the door late missing several opportunities at the free throw line, but the Cardinals could not take advantage in the game's final seconds.
The Cardinals finished the night with four players in double figures led by 17 from senior Tyran de Lattibeaudiere. Classmate Anthony Holliday chipped in 15, while freshman Kevin Booze added 12.
The Privateers were 23-of-51 (.451) from the field and finished the night with four players in double figures. Christavious Gill and Nate Frye led the Privateers with 14 points, while Nederland, Texas native, Colton Weisbrod finished the night with 10 points and five rebounds.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they host Central Arkansas. The game against the Bears is slated to begin at 6 p.m. from the Montagne Center.
-LAMAR-
