BEAUMONT, Texas – Freshman guard Nick Garth scored a game-high 20 points, and the Lamar University men's basketball team rallied from an early double-digit deficit but once again fell short dropping a 71-67 decision to Abilene Christian (11-13/6-5 Southland). The loss extended the Cards skid to seven games.
 
The Cardinals (10-14/2-10 SLC) finished the night 18-of-45 (.400) from the field, but just 1-of-9 (.111) from beyond the arc, while ACU shot 47 percent for the game after knocking down 12-of-21 (.571) in the opening half. The story came down to free throws and missed opportunities from turnovers.
 
ACU converted nearly 81 percent from the free throw line, while the Cardinals knocked down 30-of-42 (.714) but they missed several key attempts down the stretch in the second half. Big Red also forced the visitors into 17 turnovers but could manage only 12 points from those mistakes.
 
"We didn't hit our free throws down the stretch, and that hurt us," said head coach Tic Price. "They were calling the game tight so we felt like if we could drive to basket we could get to the free throw, but at the end of the day you have to hit your free throws and we didn't."
 
The Cardinals were outrebounded by five, 33-28, but held a nine-point advantage in second chance points, 11-2. LU's bench was also outscored for one of the few times this season, 28-7.
 
Joining Garth in double figures was senior Quan Jones who finished the night with 16 points – his third consecutive double-figure performance – and freshman Josh Nzeakor with 14 points and five rebounds. The Wildcats were led by freshman Jaylen Franklin's 18 points, while Jalen Little scored 14.
 
After taking a 6-2 lead to start the game, the Cardinals were stung by another early scoring drought as ACU took advantage. The Wildcats rattled off an 18-4 run to take a 10-point lkead seven minutes into the game. The Wildcats pushed their lead to as many as 13 points before Big Red was able to stop the run and take back momentum.
 
Sparked by a Garth three with 9:39 remaining, LU was able to trim a 10-point deficit down to two points with 8:26 remaining in the opening half. From that point on the game would remain close as neither team would gain larger than a six-point lead.
 
The Cardinals cut the lead down to a single point numerous times in the final minutes of the opening half but could never take back the advantage, going into the locker room down two points, 39-37.
 
After seeing ACU build the lead up to six less than two minutes into the second half, the Cardinals again put together another run taking back the lead, 50-49, for the first time since 18:07 in the opening half. The next 6:45 saw LU score on one end only to have the Wildcats tie it on the other. Senior LeMon Gregory went to the stripe with 4:15 remaining and hit one of two free throws to give the Cardinals a one-point lead, 58-57, and ACU answered with a 1-for-2 performance at the stripe on the other end of the floor. After getting a stop, the Wildcats got the ball back took back the lead after a basket from Franklin. The Wildcats added to that advantage when Little followed an LU missed three with a triple of his own.
 
The Wildcats never surrendered the lead after that as LU cut the deficit down to one possession three more times but could never get the game-tying basket, as the Wildcats converted their free throws down the stretch.
 
The Cardinals return to action Monday, Feb. 15 when they travel to Houston take on Houston Baptist. The game against the Huskies slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Sharp Gym.
 
-LU CARDINALS-