HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar University rattled off a 13-2 run late in the game to cut a 16-point deficit down to just two points, but couldn't get over the hump falling to Houston Baptist, 80-75, Saturday evening at Sharp Gym.
 
The Cardinals finished the night 24-of-62 (.387) from the field, including eight three pointers. LU also took advantage of its opportunities at the free throw line converting 19-of-20 (.950) attempts.
 
Sophomore Anderson Kopp led LU with 17 points, while freshman Kasen Harrison added 14. Junior Davion Buster netted 13 points, while senior Avery Sullivan battled through foul trouble to score 11.
 
Houston Baptist was 28-of-60 (.467) from the field, including a 9-of-14 (.643) effort on threes. HBU was able to build its lead in the second half after knocking down 56 percent of his shots in the final 20 minutes. The Huskies also outrebounded LU by four, 39-35. The Huskies were led by 21 points from Pedro Castro.
 
HBU scored the first five points of the game and pushed their lead to as many as two possessions before the Cardinals managed to grab the advantage, 20-18, behind an and-one from Ellis Jefferson.
 
Despite the Cardinals strong start, and shooting better than HBU to start the game, the hometown team was nearly perfect from beyond the arc converting six of their first seven three-point attempts.
 
The Cardinals were able to answer HBU's three-point shooting with some of their own sharpshooting. Big Red converted four of their first eight attempts.
 
After a Buster three gave the Cardinals a 32-28 advantage, LU came up with a defensive stop and after crossing the timeline with the basketball, the HBU bench was called for a technical foul and sophomore Anderson Kopp took advantage converting both free throws giving LU a 34-28 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the half.
 
HBU rattled off an 8-2 run behind consecutive three-pointers to reclaim the lead, with 2:54 remaining. The Cardinals pulled back even at 38 behind two Lincoln Smith free throws, but HBU managed to get a free throw with four seconds remaining until halftime to take a one-point lead into the locker room.
 
The Cardinals were 12-of-29 (.414) in the opening half, including a 4-of-10 effort on threes. Big Red was a perfect 10-of-10 on free throws in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The story in the first half for HBU was their long-range shooting. As a team, they shot 40 percent from the field, but they converted eight of 12 three-point attempts (.667).
 
LU turned the ball over seven times in the first half, which HBU converted into 13 points, while LU scored nine from the Houston Baptist's five miscues.
 
HBU opened the second half on a 17-2 run to build a 16-point advantage less than four minutes into the half. The run was aided by two quick Avery Sullivan fouls forcing the Pflugerville native to the bench.
 
HBU took advantage of six Cardinal turnovers in the first 5:30 of the second stanza to build on the run. The Huskies pushed the run to 17-2 before Kopp ended it with a nice drive to the basket. The Cardinals made it consecutive baskets following a steal on the next possession which led to an Ayaan Sohail layup. The San Antonio native made the basket through contact even though there was no foul called.
 
Harrison trimmed the deficit down to four possessions following consecutive baskets. After grabbing and offensive rebound and putting it back up and in, Harrison got the ball back and drained a three-pointer on the next possession. Big Red trimmed the deficit down to 11 after two Avery Sullivan free throws with 7:31 remaining. Moments later, LU trimmed the deficit down to eight points following a Kopp triple.
 
The Cardinals cut the deficit down to six on a Lincoln Smith layup, followed by Kopp steal which led to a HBU foul putting Harrison on the free throw line. The freshman buried both attempts to pull the Cardinals within four points. On the next possession, Buster came up with a steal which led to a Harrison basket in transition cutting Houston Baptist's lead down to just two.
 
HBU's Myles Pierre put a stop to the run with consecutive baskets. The Cardinals were forced to put the Huskies on the free throw line in the final minute of the game, but the Huskies took advantage of their opportunities.
 
LU will be back in action Wednesday when they return home to host Sam Houston. The game against the Bearkats will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.