BEAUMONT, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana used the long ball early to create a gap and never looked back defeating Lamar University, 83-60, Thursday evening at the Montagne Center.
 
Led by 13 points from freshman Nate Calmese, the Cardinals (9-20/5-11 Southland) shot 22-of-54 (.407) from the field and 6-of-19 (.316) from three-point range. Calmese was joined in double figures by Chris Pryor (10 points) and Cody Pennebaker (10).
 
The Lions used their size down low to win the battle on the glass outrebounding the Cards, 37-27.
 
SLU finished the night shooting 55 percent from the field (33-of-60), including 10-of-21 makes from three-point range. Of Southeastern's 10 three-pointers, nine came in the opening 20 minutes of the game. Roger McFarlane led the way for the Lions with 26 points.
 
After Southeastern opened the game on an 8-0 run, the Cardinals answered with threes from Pryor and Pennebaker to pull even at 8 less than six minutes into the game. The Lions then scored nine of the games next 11 points to claim a seven-point lead. Big Red managed to get the deficit within two points but could get no closer as the Lions pushed their lead to double figures before halftime. SLU saw its lead grow to as many as 30 in the second half before the Cardinals managed to trim the deficit down to 23 before the final buzzer.
 
The Cardinals will look to put this win behind them and hit the reset button as New Orleans comes to town Saturday. The game against the Privateers will tip off a 6 p.m. from the Montagne Center.