SEATTLE, Wash. – Once again going shorthanded, the Lamar University men's basketball team struggled to find its rhythm falling at Seattle, 76-50, Saturday afternoon at Redhawk Center. The contest in the Pacific Northwest marked the midpoint of a six-game stretch that will have LU playing five games away from Beaumont.
 
Senior Lincoln Smith scored 16 points to lead an LU offense that shot 19-of-57 (.333) from the field. The Cardinals attempted just seven threes on the day converting two of them and went 10-of-15 (.667) from the stripe.
 
Smith was joined in double figures by freshman Brock McClure who scored 10 points and pulled down 10 rebounds and classmate Avontez Ledet who added 13.
 
After struggling with turnovers in the first half, the Cardinals settled down in the final 20 minutes and finished the game with 15 (just three of those came in the second half).
 
Seattle shot 28-of-66 (.424) from the field, including 10 three-pointers, and rode a late first half run to pull away from the Cards. SU outrebounded Big Red by seven, 44-37, and also had a 23-8 advantage on points off turnovers.
 
Seattle hit six of their first 12 attempts to open the game on a 16-5 run to start the game. The Redhawks pushed their lead to 13 following a 2-of-12 start for the Red and White, but the Cardinals stopped the bleeding with a run of their own. Sparked by a Smith basket, LU rattled off eight straight points to trim the deficit down to five at the under eight-minute media timeout of the opening half. The lead was down to three following a Smith layup coming out of the timeout.
 
Unfortunately, the Redhawks would respond immediately. After pulling within a possession, the Cardinals were forced to watch as SU would score consecutive baskets from Emeka Udenyi and Kobe Williamson – possessions which sparked an 11-2 run. The lead ballooned to 24 points, 41-17, with less than 90 seconds remaining in the half.
 
The Cardinals knocked down just eight field goals in the opening 20 minutes (.320) and focused on trying to work the ball inside attempting just two triples. Seattle started the game off hot but cooled before half taking a 17-of-36 (.472) performance into the locker room.
 
The Cardinals were also victimized by 12 first-half turnovers which Seattle converted into 20 points.
 
It was a different story for the Redhawks in the second half. After shooting nearly 50 percent in the first half, SU struggled to a 4-of-14 start in the second. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were unable to take advantage connecting on just four of their first 18. Seattle managed to keep LU at arm's length for the remainder of the half.