LAKE CHARLES, La. – Lamar University used smothering defense to overcome a 32-percent shooting performance to defeat third-seeded Nicholls, 58-55, Tuesday evening in the Southland Conference semifinals. The victory sets up a Battle of the Border showdown in the tournament finals between Lamar and top-seed McNeese.
 
Junior Alexis Marmolejos led the Cardinals with 17 points. He was joined in double figures by senior Danquez Dawsey (11 points) for an offense that shot less than 35 percent for the game and just 20 percent from three-point range.
 
The Cardinals overcame a tough shooting night by holding Nicholls to an even worse performance. The Colonels hit just six field goals in the second half and finished the night converting 18-of-57 (.316) attempts. LU also outrebounded Nicholls by 10 including 13 offensive rebounds.
 
Nicholls jumped out to a 21-9 start after starting the game 7-for-its-first-17 including a 3-of-5 start on three-pointers. Unfortunately, the Cardinals went 2-for-8 during that same stretch to go along with five turnovers which led to seven early points for Nicholls. Marmolejos ended the drought with a triple at the 11:22 mark of the first half. The three-pointer woke the LU offense up as Lamar hit six of its next 12 attempts pulling within four before the under 4 media timeout.  
 
Lamar managed to pull within a single possession before halftime. The Cardinals made their run after heating up from a slow start from the field. LU closed the half knocking down eight of their last 19 attempts and took better care of the basketball. After turning the ball over five times in the first five minutes, the Cardinals only had three turnovers for the remainder of the half.
 
The Cardinals also never quit working on the glass outrebounding Nicholls buy six in the first 20 minutes including eight offensive boards which led to seven points. Lamar finished the half 10-of-27 (.370) from the field, while Nicholls was 12-of-30 (.400) but half of their makes were threes.
 
Nicholls scored the first five points of the second half to build a 10-point lead less than a minute into the half, but the Cardinals had it back to a two-possession game just moments later. Down by five, Marmolejos followed up an LU miss with a drive to the basket. The all-conference guard absorbed the contact and scored the bucket to pull Big Red within three. Moments later, Danquez Dawsey hit the equalizer with a three-pointer at the 12:46 mark.
 
After Nicholls had regained a two-possession lead, Lamar managed to battle back after consecutive stops LU got the ball in the hands of Marmolejos who drove to the basket to tie the game back with less than six to play. Ninety seconds later the Cardinals reclaimed the advantage – their first since early in the first half – on a Jackson mid-range jumper (52-50, 3:35).
 
Nicholls got a one-point lead with less than 90 seconds to play but the Cardinals closed the game with a layup from Adam Hamilton and two Marmolejos free throws for the final score.
 
The Cardinals return to action Wednesday for the Southland title. The game against the Cowboys is set for a 4 p.m. tip off on ESPN2. It will also be broadcast live on Newstalk 5670 KLVI.