BEAUMONT, Texas – Senior Adam Hamilton just missed a double-double with nine points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal to lead Lamar University to a 67-56 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Monday evening at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center.
 
The game was billed as a slugfest between second-place Lamar (15-10/10-4 Southland) and the Islanders who entered the night just one game back of the LU. The Cardinals led for more than 35 minutes and never trailed in the second half. Once the Cardinals grabbed a double-digit lead, they never allowed A&M-Corpus Christi to get any closer than seven points.
 
Lamar finished the night with players in double figures led by Ja'Sean Jackson's 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting. He was a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. He was joined by Alexis Marmolejos and Andrew Holifield who each tallied 13.
 
As a team, Lamar went 23-of-50 (.460) from the field, including a 7-of-14 (.500) effort on three-pointers, but it was the Cardinals defense that took center stage Monday. The Cardinals held Corpus Christi to less than 40 percent from the field (20-of-55), with eight makes from long range but the Islanders shot just 33.3 percent on threes.
 
Lamar also outrebounded its guests by seven, 37-30, forced 14 turnovers (which led to 19 points) and blocked eight shots – LU entered the night ranked among nation's top 35 in blocks at just under 5.0 per game.
 
Lamar took a five-point lead into halftime but A&M-Corpus Christi trimmed that down to a single point on a Leo Torbor layup with 11:32 remaining. That would be as close to a victory as the visitors would get as Lamar rattled off a 13-3 run to build a double-digit lead over the next six minutes and never looked back.
 
The Cardinals now prepare for key road stretch that will have them on the road for the next four games beginning Saturday at East Texas A&M. The game against the Lions is slated for a 2:15 tip off. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.