THIBODAUX, La. – Chris Pryor knocked down a layup with five second remaining to erase a 12-point second half deficit as Lamar University rallied for the 78-76 overtime victory at Nicholls Saturday afternoon.
 
Pryor's gamewinner keeps Lamar in a tie for first place as the Cardinals improved to 9-7 on the season and 3-0 in Southland Conference play.
 
Terry Anderson led a Cardinal offense that shot better than 50 percent from the field (31-of-57/.544), but just 5-of-20 from three-point range. Anderson scored a game-high 25 points and was one of two Cardinals in double figures.
 
After struggling from the free throw line for the first 30 minutes of the contest Big Red regathered down the stretch converting 11-of-18 (.611) attempts (9-of-11 in the second half and overtime).
 
The Colonels finished the day 25-of-61 (.410) from the floor, but after knocking down 14 field goals in the opening half Nicholls finished the game 11-of-31 (.355) from the field in the final 25 minutes. Of Nicholls 25 field goals, 9 were three pointers, but seven of those came in first half.
 
Both teams got out to quick starts from the field as Nicholls converted 10 of their first 20 attempts and Lamar 10 of its first 17, but the difference early came from long range. The Colonels hit six of their first nine three-pointers but during that same stretch Lamar was just two of their first seven.
 
The two teams were tied heading into the first media timeout, 6-6, but Nicholls responded coming out of the huddle with an 11-3 run. Lamar put a stop to the run with a Cody Pennebaker jumper. Pennebaker's basket – one of four first-half field goals for the sophomore – sparked an 11-2 run to pull the Cardinals back within two.
 
The Cardinals never cooled off for the remainder of the half as Lamar finished the half 15-of-27 (.556) – while Nicholls went into the locker room 14-of-30 from the field – but the different came from the free throw and three-point lines. The Colonels were 7-of-14 on threes and 7-of-8 on free throws while LU went 3-of-10 from the arc and 2-of-7 from the stripe in the opening half.
 
The Cardinals picked up in the second half where they left off in the first. Big Red converted five of its first eight attempts, while Nicholls was just 3-of-10 (and 0-of-5 on threes) to start the second. Despite Nicholls struggles to start the second half they managed to extend the advantage to 12 points (59-47 with less than 10 to play).
 
The Colonels kept LU at bay midway through the second taking advantage of their opportunities at the free throw line and only turning the ball over once in the first 12:02 of the second.
 
Lamar was down 11 when they rattled off an 11-2 run to pull within four, 61-57, following an Anderson three-pointer. The Cardinals then forced a turnover and had a chance to trim the deficit even further but Nicholls got the stop.
 
The Cardinals pulled within two momentarily following a B.B. Knight drive to the basket. Nicholls got the advantage back to four on the ensuing possession with two free throws. Following a missed layup, the Cardinals picked up the loose ball and got it up the court and into the hands of Anderson for a score in the paint to pull the Cards back within two with less than two minutes remaining.
 
From the 7:35 mark of the second half – where the Cardinals trailed by 12 – Lamar rattled off an 18-6 run to tie the game with less than a minute remaining. Anderson got a layup with 32 seconds to temporarily give Lamar a two-point lead but the Colonels would answer to tie the game and force overtime.
 
In the extra stanza, Jalen White hit a three-ball to give Nicholls a one-point lead after Lamar took the first lead of overtime following two Pryor free throws, but the Cardinals had an answer of their own in the form of an Anderson triple. The Cardinals got their advantage to as many as four in the extra stanza for Nicholls tied the game late setting up Pryor's heroics.
 
The Cardinals return to action Monday when they travel to Lake Charles, La. for part one of the Battle of the Border Rival rivalry with McNeese. The game against the Cowboys is slated for a 7 p.m. tip from the Legacy Center.