CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Senior Colton Weisbrod was one of two Cardinals to record a double-double as the Lamar University rallied for a 77-72 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the American Bank Center Saturday evening. The victory moved LU to 9-3 all-time in Corpus Christi, and gives the Cardinals (10-5/2-0 Southland) their first 2-0 start in league play since the 2011-12 season. It's also the first time Big Red has won 10 games before the New Year in program history.
 
The Cardinals were 27-of-55 (.491) from the field, including nine three-pointers on the night. Normally a weapon in the paint, Weisbrod expanded his game Saturday connecting on four three-pointers as he finished the game with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Josh Nzeakor also recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi used a second-half surge to finish 26-of-67 (.388) from the field, but struggled from three-point range all night (6-of-22/.273). The Islanders were aided in their early second half run by LU's struggles at the free throw line. The Cardinals missed 12 attempts on the night, while Corpus Christi converted better than 82 percent of its attempts.
 
Junior Nick Garth came off the bench to score 19 points for the Cardinals, including two of his three triples in the closing minutes of the game. The Islanders were led by 23 points and 10 rebounds from Joseph Kilgore.
 
"Any time you go on the road and get a win in this conference it's a good thing," said LU head coach Tic Price. "We've had our struggles down here recently. I thought Colton Weisbrod did a great job of controlling the paint in the second half. A&M-Corpus Christi is very tough in the paint. Josh also got some big rebounds for us and Nick got going late and we were able to get a win tonight."
 
The Islanders got out a slow start offensively converting just three of its first 13 attempts, including one of the first seven from beyond the arc, due in large part to an LU defense that was hustling around the court. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were not able to take full advantage of the Corpus Christi struggles due to some early turnovers and continued issues at the free throw line. The Cardinals settled down offensively and finished the half with just six turnovers, but shot 7-of-13 (.538) from the free throw line.
 
The Cardinals were able to build a small cushion midway through the first half when Weisbrod buried consecutive threes from the same spot on the floor. Weisbrod's triples were followed by a fastbreak three from junior Nick Garth on a play that was set up by a Zjori Bosha steal. The Cards' 9-3 run gave them a five-point lead. The Cardinals put together an 8-1 run late in the half to build an eight-point advantage before taking a six-point lead into the locker room, 35-29.
 
The Cardinals finished the half shooting 50 percent from the field (12-of-24), including a 4-of-9 (.444) effort from three-point range. LU was beat on the boards in the opening 20 minutes, which included seven offensive rebounds for the Islanders leading to eight second chance points.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi was 12-of-34 (.353) from the field in the opening half but struggled from three-point range (3-of-13).
 
The Islanders came out of the locker room and fired the first salvo of the second half outscoring LU, 20-9, to claim a five-point lead, 49-44. The Islanders opened the half knocking down 8 of their first 12 shots while the Cardinals hit just four of their first 12.
 
The opening run staggered LU momentarily but the Cardinals would respond with a 19-10 run of their own. The run was sparked by two and-one opportunities for Nzeakor and another three-pointer from Weisbrod (his fourth of the game). The Cardinals reclaimed the lead, 63-58 with 7:24 remaining.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi made another run and claimed one-point lead with two to play. The Cardinals found Garth open in the corner for three and he buried the jumper. The Islanders responded with an and-one from Sean Rhea to reclaim the advantage but Big Red responded by finding Garth again in the corner for another triple. LU got a stop on the other end of the floor and Garth hit two free throw to put the game away.
 
The Cardinals return to action Wednesday when they travel to New Orleans, La. to take on the Privateers. The game against New Orleans will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Lakefront Arena.
 
-LU CARDINALS-