BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team (10-9/2-5 Southland) struggled out of the gate Saturday afternoon and didn't have enough to overtake Houston Baptist falling to the Huskies, 92-79. Despite finishing the game with four players in double figures and shooting better than 50 percent in the second half, the Cardinals dropped their second straight game.
 
"We didn't pass the toughness test tonight," said head coach Tic Price. "We have to get to those 50-50 balls and it is frustrating that we haven't been able to do it. Take nothing away Houston Baptist, there is a reason they are undefeated in conference play."
 
LU repeated what has become an all too familiar trend this season starting slow but coming out of the locker room in the second half as a completely different team. After knocking down just nine field goals and shooting less than 30 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, Big Red responded by connecting on nearly 52 percent of his shots including seven three-pointers (.700) in the second half. The Cards finished the game 11-for-20 (. 550) from three-point range.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, HBU picked up the offensive intensity in the second half as well. The Huskies connected on nearly 50 percent of their first half shots, and went 20-for-39 (.513) in the second half to finish the game, 35-of-70 (.500).
 
For one of the few times this season, the Cards were outrebounded by an opponent. Led by 6-11 center Josh Ibarra (18 points and 12 rebounds), the Huskies outgained LU on the boards, 47-35. HBU's size advantage in low post showed up on the offensive end of the floor as well. The Huskies outscored LU, 42-25, in the paint and recorded a 10-point advantage in second chance points, 20-10.
 
LU had its opportunities from the free throw line but struggled to take advantage. The Cards finished the day 22-of-34 (.647) at the stripe.
 
Both teams finished with four players in double figures. LU was led by junior Marcus Owens' 18 points and six rebounds, while junior Lincoln Davis added 15. Davis did the majority of his damage at the free throw line where he was 11-of-15 (.733). HBU's Colter Lasher led all scorers with 19 points, along with teammate Anthony Odunsi.
 
Despite their offensive struggles, the Cards fought to keep the game close throughout the majority of the first half. LU trailed by only four when the Huskies went on an 11-2 run to build a 34-21 advantage with 2:40 remaining in the half. HBU managed to push its lead to as many as 14 before freshman Nick Garth buried a three to send the Cards into the locker room down 11, 40-29. Garth finished the night with 14 points on 4-of-5 (.800) shooting from beyond the arc.
 
LU opened the second half and immediately began chipping away at the lead. The Cards had the deficit cut to six points less than two minutes into the half. HBU responded by pushing its lead back to 10 over the course of the next two possessions, but the Cardinals responded by trimming the deficit to four points, 50-46, before the first media timeout.
 
After falling behind by 10 with just under 13 minutes on the clock, senior LeMon Gregory scored on a layup to cut the deficit back to eight points, 58-50, with 12:39 remaining. Gregory went to the free throw line following the play but couldn't convert the three-point opportunity. The game's momentum switched on the following possession.
 
After Gregory was called for his first personal foul on the next trip down the floor, the officials followed up by charging LU with a technical foul. HBU converted all four free throws pushing their lead back to double digits. The four-point swing pushed momentum back in favor of the visitors as the deficit hovered around 10 points for the next eight minutes. The Red and White made one final charge cutting the deficit down to five with plenty of time on the clock but the visitors responded with a 16-5 run to build their advantage to 16 points with seconds remaining. Sophomore Kevin Booze closed out the game with a three-pointer for the final tally.
 
The Cardinals return to action Monday when they travel to Nacogdoches, Texas to face defending conference champion Stephen F. Austin. The game against the Lumberjacks will tip off at 7 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum and will be televised on ESPN3.
 
-LU CARDINALS-