MONROE, La. – Lamar University went on the road and never trailed defeating UL Monroe, 79-66, Monday evening at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Senior Andrew Holifield got out to a quick start and never slowed down scoring a team-high 23 points and became the third different Cardinal to reach the 20-point plateau in the team's first three games.
 
Lamar ended the night 31-of-70 (. 443) from the field with six three-point field goals and overcame a small deficit on the glass at halftime to outrebound ULM, 41-39. Defensively, the Cardinals held their hosts to a 23-of-56 performance (.411) with just six three-pointers.
 
Big Red also forced ULM into 14 turnovers which were cashed into for 16 points, while Lamar turned the ball over fewer than 10 times. The Cardinals recorded 10 steals and blocked eight shots (led by three from Holifield).
 
Four Cardinals ended the night in double figures. Joining Holifield were sophomore Braden East (15 points), freshman Jayden Gambrell (11) and senior Cody Pennebaker (10). East and Pennebaker each pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
 
The Cardinals leaned on their defense early to snag the opening lead of the game. ULM was forced into turnovers on their first three possessions which aided the Cardinals jumping out to an 8-0 lead. Senior Andrew Holifield provided the offensive spark opening the game 3-of-3 from the long range building an 11-2 lead.
 
While the Cardinals opened the game 3-of-9 from three-point range, the Warhawks were limited to a 3-of-9 start from the field. The lead grew to nine before UL Monroe managed to battle back to within three at the 14:28 mark but Lamar responded. The Cardinals rattled off a 12-2 run to build a 13-point lead midway through the half. ULM could get no closer than seven points in the final 10 minutes of the half before the Cardinals took a 13-point lead into the locker room.
 
The Cardinals were 16-of-33 from the field (.485) with five three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes, led by 16 points from Holifield field. ULM finished the half 10-of-28 (.357) with only two makes from long range. Lamar's defense also forced ULM into nine first-half turnovers (which were converted into nine points), recorded five steals and blocked four shots (two of those belonging to point guard Jayden Barrs).
 
Lamar kept ULM at arm's length through the early stages of the second half. As the Warhawks appeared to be heating up – pulling within eight – LU responded by pushing the ball up the floor and finding Jayden Gambrell in the corner for a three and got fouled. The Houston native converted the four-point play to push Big Red's lead back to 12, 60-48. With less than 12 to play. The triple sparked an 8-0 run as the lead grew to 16 points.
 
After building a 16-point lead, the home team rattled of a 16-5 run to pull within five, 69-64, with just over five minutes remaining. Lamar went 1-of-8 from the field during UL Monroe's run. While the Warhawks managed to trim the deficit within two possessions, Lamar always had an answer as it moves back above .500 on the season (2-1).
 
The Cardinals will now prepare for a trip north to compete in the Blaine Taylor Classic (hosted by the University of Montana). LU will face tournament-host Montana Sunday, Nov. 23 followed by Oakland 24 hours later. Both games are slated to be broadcast on ESPN+.