LAKE CHARLES, La. – Lamar University started slow Friday afternoon but showed extreme poise rallying from a double-digit first-half deficit to defeat Lindenwood, 73-71, in the opening game of the McNeese MTE Tournament.
 
Freshman Nate Calmese scored a game-high 20 points to lead an LU attack that finished the day shooting nearly 44 percent from the field (28-of-64/.438) including five three-pointers.
 
Calmese was joined in double figures by junior Adam Hamilton. The Buckeye, Ariz., native, added 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
 
Lindenwood shot 41 percent from the field (25-of-61), including seven three-pointers. The Lions were led by 19 points from Kevin Caldwell, Jr. Lindenwood held a slim advantage on the glass, 38-36.
 
Lindenwood jumped out to a quick start opening the game on with a 15-4 lead due to some hot shooting beyond the arc. The Lions connected on four of their first 5 from three-point range, while the Cardinals missed their first five attempts during that same stretch.
 
Big Red didn't let the slow start impact the rest of the game. The Cardinals rattled off a 9-0 run midway through the opening half to pull back within five, 24-19. The Cards' run was sparked by a Cody Pennebaker three-ball. Moments later, the Cardinals got a layup from freshman Nate Calmese to trim the deficit down to a single possession with less than four remaining in the half.
 
Big Red battled all the way back to tie the game at 33 following a Calmese three and layup. Unfortunately, the Lions ended the half on a 6-0 run to take a 39-33 lead into the locker room
 
After a slow start to the game, the Cardinals finished the half shooting better than 41 percent from the field (14-of-34), but only two threes (2-of-14/.143). Lindenwood cooled off in the latter stages of the half to shoot 13-of-29 (.448), with five threes. The Lions led LU on the boards, 19-18, in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Trailing by six, the Cardinals kept the pressure up in the second half rattling off a 9-2 run to take their first lead of the game with a Calmese triple less than two minutes into the half. While the other LU would respond and push their lead to as many as eight (midway through the half), it wouldn't matter because whatever Lindenwood threw at Big Red the Cards had a response.
 
Trailing by five with 5:14 to play, the Lions sent Jakevion Buckley to the line and the sophomore would make them pay with two makes. A Calmese basket moments later pulled LU within one. The play was setup on a Pennebaker theft on the other end of the floor. The Cardinals reclaimed the lead again with two Buckley free throws. After Pennebaker gave LU a three-point lead, the Lions would respond with a triple to tie the game and that would be as close to a W as Lindenwood would get.
 
The Cardinals scored the game's next four points and Big Red kept Lindenwood at arm's reach as the Red and White improved to 3-1 on the season.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday against Western Carolina. The game will tip off at 11 a.m. from the Legacy Center.