BEAUMONT, Texas – With the score tied with 1.5 seconds remaining, senior Ja'Sean Jackson heaved the ball the length of the court slamming off the backboard and in the hands of Beaumont native Andrew Holifield who scooped up the ball and let fly a floater from 10 feet away as the buzzer sounded for a thrilling 70-68 victory.
 
The win moves Lamar to 14-10 overall and 9-4 in Southland Conference play. LU remains tied for second in the Southland Conference standings.
 
Holifield, who finished the night with 13 points and seven rebounds, was one of four Cardinals in double figures on a night with Lamar was down a starter. Junior Alexis Marmolejos led the way with 19 points, while senior Errol White added 14 points and eight rebounds. Jackson, who made the full court heave to set up the game-winner, netted 12 points and dished out four assists.
 
As a team, the Cardinals shot 27-of-64 (.422) from the field, including seven three-pointers, and were 9-of-12 (.750) from the free throw line. The two teams both finished with 37 rebounds but Lamar had a slight edge on the offensive glass, 11-9. The Cardinals gained an advantage in transition outscoring UTRGV, 23-12, in fastbreak points and 28-10 in the paint.
 
UTRGV was held to a 21-of-55 (.382) performance but managed to keep things close with their success from three-point range. The Vaqueros knocked down 16 triples (.432) – eight in each half – preventing Lamar from running away it down the stretch.
 
Lamar led by as many as 11 in the second half but a couple of late misses at the stripe – one coming with 27 seconds on the clock and missing the front end of a one-and-one with eight seconds remaining – kept the door open for UTRGV. The Vaqueros drew a foul with 1.5 seconds remaining and Howie Fleming, Jr. hit both free throws to tie the game at 68 as it appeared the two teams were headed to overtime. UTRGV left just enough time on the clock to allow Lamar to get off one final play that will go down as one of the greatest finishes in program history.
 
The Cardinals will now look to make it two in row Saturday when they travel to Commerce, Texas to take on East Texas A&M. The game against the Lions will tip off at 2:15 and will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.