NEW ORLEANS, La. – Sophomore Anderson Kopp scored a career-high 24 points as Lamar University rallied from a 17-point second half deficit only to come up short, 76-73, in the final game of the Tulane Classic Saturday afternoon at Fogelman Arena. The Cardinals had the ball and were within a single possession three times in the final 30 seconds but Lipscomb kept putting LU at the free throw line to prevent them from getting off a three.
 
The Cardinals bounced back from a slow start to finish the game 27-of-57 (.474) from the field, including five three-pointers. LU also took advantage of their opportunities from the free throw line converting 14 of 19 attempts (.737). LU also outrebounded Lipscomb, 33-30.
 
The Bisons finished the day 30-of-54 (.556) including a 10-of-21 (.476) effort from three-point range. Lipscomb also got a huge advantage from their bench outscoring the Cardinals' reserves, 26-8.
 
In addition to Kopp's 24 points, senior Avery Sullivan chipped in a season-high 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Junior Quinlan Bennett added 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while senior Ellis Jefferson scored eight points and dished out 11 assists. Lipscomb was led by 15 points from Romeao Ferguson and Ahsan Asadullah.
 
Both teams started slow offensively (2-of-7 on both ends of the floor), but a Kopp three-pointer gave LU a one-point lead early. Lipscomb rattled off a 9-2 run to build a six-point lead, 13-7, forcing LU head coach Tic Price to call a timeout. Lipscomb's run was sparked by hitting six of their next nine attempts after the slow start.
 
Big Red responded immediately after the timeout. The Cards got an and-one from junior Quinlan Bennett to cut the deficit in half. The three-point play sparked an 11-4 run for the Red and White as they got two baskets from sophomore David Muoka and one from Lincoln Smith to reclaim a one-point lead, 18-17.
 
After the Cardinals reclaimed the lead, the final eight minutes of the half was more of punch-counter punch as both offenses began to heat up. The Cardinals hit 11 of their final 20 attempts, while the Bisons closed the half 12 for their final 23.
 
LU finished the half 13-of-27 (.481), including a 3-of-9 (.333) from long range, while Lipscomb was 14-of-30 (.467). The Cardinals held a slim 16-15 edge on the glass at halftime, but neither team could gain an advantage on the offensive glass with just three offensive boards.
 
The Cardinals opened the second half with five turnovers on their first six possessions which led to an 11-2 Lipscomb run as the Bisons built a nine-point lead, before the Cardinals answered with four straight to trim the deficit back to five points. LU pushed the run to seven unanswered following a Muoka block which led to three Kopp free throws on the other end the floor.
 
The Cardinals had a chance to push their run to nine straight but Kopp's free throw line jumper fell short and Lipscomb responded by going on their own seven-point run. The Bison pushed their run to 14-2 and built a 14-point advantage before a Kopp triple stimmed the tide. Lipscomb answered with a three of their own and eventually pushed their lead to 17 points.
 
Lipscomb was seeking the knockout punch but the Red and White had an answer. The Cardinals used a 13-5 run to pull within nine. Following two Sullivan free throws, LU trimmed the deficit down to seven with 3:14 to play. The Cardinals continued to press and got within four after Jefferson stole ball away following a Sullivan missed free throw. Jefferson drove it to the basket but his layup was off the mark, but Sullivan saved the possession with a tip-in.
 
After a Lipscomb free throw put them back in front by three, the Cardinals got the ball into Kopp's hands but Lipscomb fouled him before he could attempt a three. Kopp hit one of two free throws to pull LU within two. That scenario would be played out on the final three possessions of the game as each team went one for two at the stripe for the game's final score.
 
The Cardinals will be back in action Saturday, Dec. 5, when the travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take on the U.S. Air Force Academy. The game against the Falcons will tip off at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. Central time) from Clune Arena.