Box Score KATY, Texas – Lamar University's run through the 2021 Southland Conference Championships came to an end Friday evening with a 93-71 setback to Abilene Christian. The Cardinals end the season with a 10-18 (.357) overall record.
 
The Cardinals finished the night with another strong shooting performance knocking down 29-of-56 (.518) shots, including seven threes. Unfortunately, the Wildcats opened the game hot and never cooled off shooting 53 percent from the field including nine three-pointers. ACU won the battle on the glass outrebounded the Cardinals, 35-24.
 
LU was led by 23 points from Anderson Kopp on 5-of-8 shooting from long range. Kopp was one of two Cardinals in double figures as Kasen Harrison added 18. ACU was led by 20 points from Kolten Kohl.
 
"Abilene Christian is a very good team," said LU head coach Tic Price. "We ran into a buzzsaw tonight. Those guys hang their hats on defense, and tonight they turned our mistakes into 22 points.
 
"I'm proud of our guys. A lot of folks counted us out this year, but these guys never quit," added Price.
 
After taking a three-point lead into the first timeout, ACU broke the huddle and scored consecutive baskets. The two Wildcat makes sparked a 15-4 run that saw the second-seeded 'Cats build a 12-point lead midway through the half.
 
LU would answer with an Kopp three-pointer that sparked an 8-2 run to pull the Cards back within six, 21-15 with 9:29 remaining. Unfortunately, LU was unable to sustain the run and Abilene Christian responded with a run that pushed their lead back to double figures. ACU saw its lead grow to as many as 26 before taking a 52-29 lead into the locker room.
 
Despite the deficit, the Cardinals still managed to shoot better than 42 percent in the opening half, including a 3-of-6 (.500) on threes, but the Wildcats opened the game in similar fashion to LU the night before and didn't cool off in the opening 20 minutes. ACU converted 19-of-31 (.613) attempts including four threes. ACU was also 10-of-12 (.833) from the free throw line, while the Cardinals got to the free throw line just six times in the opening 20 minutes.
 
LU was unable to get the deficit back to single digits in the second half. The Cardinals end the season with their deepest run in the Southland Conference tournament since 2012 when they won the title.