BEAUMONT, Texas – Sophomore Braden East scored a game-high 23 points to lead Lamar University to a 63-51 victory over UIW Saturday evening at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center.
 
The victory moved LU (8-8/3-4 SLC) up two spots in the Southland standings from a seventh-place tie into a four-way tie for fifth, just a game back of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
East was one of three Cardinals in double figures for an offense that shot 23-of-55 (.418) on the night with six three-pointers. East was joined in double digits by junior Rob Lee, Jr., who scored 13 and pulled down a game-high seven rebounds while senior Andrew Holifield chipped in 11 with six rebounds and two blocks.
 
The Cardinals outrebounded their guests by seven, 39-32, with 13 offensive rebounds which Lamar converted into a 9-1 advantage in second chance points.
 
Defensively, Lamar held UIW to a 20-of-52 (.385) effort from the field with just five three-pointers. UIW also struggled at the line Saturday converting only 6-of-16 (.375) attempts. On the flip side, Lamar was sent to the foul line 16 times and converted 69 percent of its free throws.
 
The game remained close for the first 16:25 of the opening half as neither team could gain more than a possession advantage. With the game tied at 17, Lamar rattled off a 7-0 run to build a little cushion. Lamar would push that lead to nine before the intermission.
 
The Cardinals pushed their lead to double figures on a basket by King-Njhsanni Wilhite three minutes into the second half (37-27) and then again just over a minute later on a Holifield three but UIW would rally.
 
The league's other Cardinals trimmed the Lamar lead down to four, 49-45, with less than seven to play. Lamar responded by scoring the next four points which sparked a 14-2 run as the good guys watched their lead balloon to as many as 16 late in the contest.
 
The Cardinals will look to sweep the two-game homestand Monday when Houston Christian comes to town. The game against the Huskies will tip off at 6 p.m. from the Neches Arena.