SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Lamar University got off to a slow start Monday evening in San Antonio and never fully recovered dropping a 76-67 decision to UIW at the McDermott Center.
 
Junior Terry Anderson scored a game-high 22 points for a Cardinals' squad that shot 25-of-70 (.357) from the field, but only two of those field goals were three-pointers.
 
Anderson was one of just two Cardinals (13-11/7-4 SLC) in double-figures as Errol White came off the bench to score 10 points and pull down a team-high nine rebounds, and Janko Bulajic scored 10 points and pulled down six boards.
 
UIW took the first lead of the game and never trailed finishing the night 25-of-56 (.446) from the field including seven three-pointers. San Antonio's Cardinals had their struggles from the stripe but they were good enough down the stretch to hold the lead and lock up the victory, 19-of-28 (.679).
 
UIW held the advantage on the glass, 45-37.
 
UIW started quick knocking down three of their first six shots to build a 7-0 lead. Lamar missed its first three attempts but ended the run with an and-one opportunity from White. While White didn't convert the three-point play, it seemed to settle down the visiting Cardinals who converted eight of their next 14 attempts.
 
Unfortunately, San Antonio's version of the Cardinals continued their hot start. UIW hit eight of its first 16, and 12 of its first 22 building as much as an eight-point first-half lead. Lamar closed the half strong outscoring UIW, 11-5, over the final seven minutes of the half to pull within two, 35-33, heading into the locker room.
 
Unfortunately, that momentum from the end of the first half didn't carry over into the start of the second. The Cardinals hit just one of their first 10 attempts and UIW took advantage rattling off a 12-2 run to take a double-digit lead. The lead grew to as many as 14 before Lamar stopped the bleeding.
 
Pennebaker scored a basket in traffic and went to the free throw line to convert and-one which sparked a 23-11 run. The Cardinals trimmed the lead down to within four points with less than seven to play. Big Red kept up the pressure and pulled to within two in the second half but could never take the lead as UIW did just at the free throw line to hold on for the victory.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they travel to New Orleans to face the Privateers. The game against UNO will tip off at 4 p.m. from Lakefront Arena.