Box Score NATCHITOCHES, La. – Freshman Eian Lowe scored a career-high 13 points, pulled down two rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded two steals as Lamar University built a 24-point lead and hung on to defeat Northwestern State, 76-61, at Prather Coliseum.
 
Lamar (6-6/1-2 SLC) shot 31-of-54 (.574) from the field, including seven three-pointers, and outrebounded the Demons by nine, 34-25.
 
While the Demons began to heat up in the second half, Lamar held NSU to a 19-of-47 (.404) effort and just 7-of-18 (.389) from long range.
 
Lowe was one of four Cardinals in double figures Monday. Senior Rob Lee, Jr. led Lamar with 19 points after missing most of the first half with early foul trouble. Junior King-Njhsanni Wilhite added 14 and senior Cody Pennebaker netted 12.
 
Both teams got out to quick starts offensively. Lamar converted six of its first seven while the Demons were 6-of-8. After NSU took an early four-point lead, Lamar responded with a Lee, Jr. three-ball and an Andrew Holifield steal which led to a fastbreak basket turning the deficit into a one-point LU lead.
 
Northwestern State regained a one-point lead, and Lee went to the bench with an early second foul, but the Lamar responded to the adversity with a 11-2 run capped by a Wilhite three-pointer to give Lamar an eight-point lead. The run would grow to a 24-9 as the Lamar's lead ballooned to 15.
 
In addition to Wilhite's huge first half, Lowe's was even better. A true freshman, Lowe ended the half with a career-high 13 points (5-of-6 shooting), two steals, a rebound an assist.
 
Big Red carried a 44-25 advantage into halftime after shooting 17-of-27 (.630) from the field including a 4-of-9 effort from range. Lamar also held a 15-10 advantage on the glass in the opening 20 minutes.
 
After a quick start (6-of-8), the Demons were 2-of-13 for the rest of the half (.381) and just 1-of-5 from long range. The Cardinals also forced NSU into eight first-half turnovers from six steals.
 
The Cardinals' lead jumped to 24 points early in the second half before NSU managed to chip away. NSU trimmed Lamar's lead down to 16 with just over 12 to play and following a 23-12 run Lamar's advantage had been trimmed to 13 but LU didn't allow the Demons to get any closer.
 
The Cardinals return to action Wednesday when they travel to Commerce, Texas to take on East Texas A&M. The game against the Lions will tip off at 11 a.m. from the Commerce Fieldhouse and will be streamed live on ESPN+.