Box Score LAKE CHARLES, La. – Lamar University got 19 points from Chris Pryor and 13 from B.B. Knight but it was McNeese that got the win in the Battle of the Border (and battle of the two Southland Conference unbeaten teams) Monday evening, 88-69, at the Legacy Center.
 
Cody Pennebaker joined Pryor and Knight in double figures for an offense that shot 23-of-56 (.411) from the field, including a 12-of-29 (.414) effort from long range. Lamar also took advantage of its opportunities from the free throw line (11-of-15/.733).
 
The Cowboys were of 26-of-55 (.473) from the field including 11 triples. They were put on the free throw line 28 times knocking down 25 attempts. McNeese also won the battle on the boards, 37-31.
 
The Cardinals were hurt by 16 turnovers which McNeese converted into 23 points. McNeese turned the ball over 12 times which Lamar turned into 17 points.
 
The Cowboys jumped out to a 19-11 lead due in large part to their hot start from long range. McNeese converted four of their first six attempts from three-point range. Lamar answered back with a couple of threes from Chris Pryor and a long three from Ja'Sean Jackson.
 
The Cardinals continued to chip away at the deficit and managed to cut McNeese's lead down to four points, 23-19, behind some strong rebounding and a fastbreak basket which led to a crowd-quieting alley-oop from B.B. Knight to Adam Hamilton.
 
After Lamar rallied to within two possessions, McNeese went on an 8-2 McNeese run to push their lead to 10 points. The Cowboys' run ended with a Knight dunk. Knight's play sparked the Cardinals who rallied from a 10-point deficit.
 
LU rattled off an 8-0 run to pull even at 33 – led by threes on consecutive possessions from Knight – but the Cowboys finished the half with an 8-2 run to take a six-point lead into the locker room.
 
Both teams knocked down 12 field goals in the first 20 minutes with six of McNeese's baskets coming from long range while Big Red converted seven triples. The Cowboys were 11-of-12 from the free throw line in the opening half, while Lamar converted all four of its attempts.
 
LU opened the second half on an 8-0 run to start second half to take a 43-41 lead, but McNeese responded with a 12-4 run to reclaim the advantage. Both teams came out quick in the second half, with Lamar converting six of its first nine, including a 2-of-3 start from three-point range, but McNeese was just a bit better knocking down five of its first six attempts, which included a 3-of-4 start from long range.
 
Trailing by four points with just under 16 minutes remaining, the homestanding Cowboys went on an 11-1 over the course of the next four minutes pushing what was a two possession lead into a 14-point advantage with 11:40 remaining. Lamar was unable to answer down the stretch.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday, Jan. 20^th when they travel to Houston, Texas to face Houston Christian. The game is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. from Sharp Gym.