NATCHITOCHES, La. – Junior Andrew Holifield scored a game-high 22 points and Lamar University shot 60 percent in the second half (80 percent from long range) to cruise to a 75-65 victory over Northwestern State Monday evening at Prather Coliseum. The win, just Lamar's ninth all-time in Natchitoches, moved the Cardinals to 17-10 on the season and alone in second place in the league standings (12-4) following Southeastern Louisiana's loss to McNeese.
 
The victory also secured Lamar's postseason spot in next month's Southland Conference tournament.
 
The Cardinals converted 15-of-25 attempts in the second half, and 8-of-10 from long range to finish 25-of-55 (.455) on the night. Thirteen of Lamar's 25 makes came from long range. Lamar outscored the Demons by 16 in the second half.
 
For the second consecutive game, the Cardinals dominated the glass outrebounding their guests by 11, 37-26, including 16 offensive rebounds (LU held a 16-3 advantage in second chance points).
 
Holifield was joined in double figures by Alexis Marmolejos and Danquez Dawsey who each finished the night with 13 points.
 
Northwestern State was 25-of-51 (.490) from the field, but just 6-of-22 (.273) on three pointers. The Demons were led by Micah Thomas' 16 points.
 
Northwestern State jumped out of the gates quickly opening on a 6-0 run which was extended to 13-3 but before the Demos could run and hide Lamar answered with a run of its own. After hitting just three of its first 16, Lamar converted four of its next seven to spark a 17-2 run. Lamar took its first lead of the game on a Dawsey three with 8:10 remaining in the opening half.
 
Big Red's lead would grow to as many as five before Northwestern State would answer closing the half on a 10-3 run to take a six-point lead into the locker room, 35-29. Lamar closed the half converting 10-of-30 attempts, including five threes, after a slow start while NSU was 15-of-27 (.556) but just 2-of-9 (.222) from three-point range.
 
Lamar flipped the script on the Demons to start the second half opening on an 8-0 run to reclaim a two point lead, before NSU got on the board with a three-pointer more than three minutes in. The Cardinals answered right back with a three-ball as the Red and White opened the second half knocking down 12 of its first 17 from the field (.706) and 6-of-6 on three-pointers. The Cardinals built their advantage to as many as 15 before the final score.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday when they travel to Houston, Texas to take on Houston Christian. The game against Huskies is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. from Sharp Gym. It will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.