BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University rattled off a 29-9 run early in the second half to build separation and never looked back defeating Our Lady of the Lake, 88-54, Saturday afternoon at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center.
 
The Cardinals (2-5) shot nearly 55 percent (36-of-66) from the field, including a 19-of-31 (.613) effort in the second half, and had five players finish in double-figures to take down a nationally ranked NAIA school with a history of wins over NCAA Division I programs.
 
Big Red was led by 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals from senior Ja'Sean Jackson. The San Antonio native was joined in double figures by Cody Pennebaker (14), Errol White (12), Adam Hamilton (10) and Alexis Marmolejos (10). Hamilton just missed a double-double by one rebound. Every Cardinal that entered the game scored at least one basket.
 
Lamar held previously undefeated OLLU (9-1) to a 20-of-60 (.333) effort from the field, which included six three-pointers but only two of those triples came in the second half. The Saints were led by 10 points from Arthur Celestin, but he was the lone OLLU player in double figures.
 
Turnovers and rebounds played a huge factor in the game. Lamar recorded 11 steals and forced 21 turnovers which led to 26 points. The Cardinals also outrebounded their guests by 15, 44-29.
 
Both teams wanted to get out and run the ball but it was Lamar that ended the day with a huge advantage in fast break points. The Cardinals outscored OLLU, 23-8, on the sprint.
 
Despite building a lead as large as 11 points in the first half, the game felt closer than the score would indicate, but the Cardinals never trailed following a Pennebaker layup at the 17:53 mark of the first half. The Cardinals carried a nine-point lead into the locker room that was trimmed to a two-possession game, 38-33, just seconds into the final half but the Cardinals responded to the Saints basket with the run that knocked the wind out of their sails.
 
In an odd quirk to the schedule, Lamar will now get ready to open Southland Conference play when they hit the road to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 5) and UT Rio Grande Valley (Dec. 7). The game against the Islanders is slated to begin Thursday at 7 p.m.