BEAUMONT, Texas – Despite struggling from the field Lamar University managed to stay close with UAB but came up just short dropping a 57-48 decision to the Blazers Tuesday evening from Bartow Arena. It was the Cardinals (4-3) worst night offensively on the season for a team that entered the night as one of the Southland's top scoring squads.
 
Neither team shot the ball well, but UAB finished the night with the edge. The Cardinals held their hosts to a 20-of-63 (.317) performance but couldn't take advantage of their opportunities. The Red and White converted just 18-of-62 (.290) attempts and only three triples on the night.
 
The Cardinals were also outrebounded by 12 but LU managed to limit the damage from UAB's rebounding edge. UAB finished the game with a slim 12-10 edge in second chance points.
 
Senior T.J. Atwood was one of just two Cardinals to finish the night in double digits, scoring 16 points. He also pulled down 12 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by sophomore Davion Buster's 12 points. Junior Avery Sullivan just missed his third consecutive double-double with six points and 11 rebounds.
 
Similar to the game at Kentucky, LU struggled out of the gate. The Cardinals found themselves down 8-0 before Atwood put LU on the board with a basket at the 17:52 mark. Atwood's basket sparked a 10-4 run to pull the Red and White within two, 12-10.
 
The Blazers pushed their lead back to six before the Cardinals went on another run to take their first lead of the game. LU's 7-0 run was capped by another Atwood field goal to give the Cardinals a 19-18 lead. The half ended with UAB reclaiming one-point lead, 25-24, heading into halftime.
 
Defense ruled the opening 20 minutes of action as both teams were held under 30 percent from the field. The Cardinals were 8-of-29, while UAB was 10-of-37 from the field. That rule applied to the three-point arc as well as the Cardinals converted just 1-of-4 attempts, while the Blazers were 3-of-15.
 
It remained a close ballgame in the second half that saw the Blazers move back in front by five points less than three minutes into the half. The Cardinals went on small 7-2 run to pull event at the 13-minute mark. Moments later, Sullivan gave the Cardinals their first lead of the half, 34-33, from the free throw line.
 
Unfortunately for Big Red, it would be their final lead of the contest as UAB responded with a 9-2 run to reclaim a six-point advantage. The Blazers were able to hold LU at arm's length due to their struggles from the field and stretched their lead to nine points down the stretch from the free throw line.
 
The Cardinals will close out the current four game road swing Saturday when they travel to Houston, Texas to face Texas Southern. The game against the Tigers will tip off at 7 p.m. from the H&PE Arena.