THIBODAUX, La. – Lamar University junior Rob Lee, Jr. led a group of five Cardinals in double figures as Big Red rolled into Thibodaux, La., Saturday and defeated the Southland co-leading Nicholls Colonels, 90-80.
 
The win, Lamar's third straight and fifth in its last seven games, moves the Cardinals to 10-8 (.556) on the season and 5-4 (556) in Southland Conference play.
 
Lee led the Cardinals with 20 points for an offense that shot better than 64 from the field (34-of-53). The Cardinals actually cooled off in the second half to a mere 14-of-25 (.560) following a blistering first-half pace.
 
The Cardinals beat Nicholls at their own game knocking down 10-of-16 (.625) three-pointers outpacing the league's top three-point shooting team. Lamar also converted 12-of-16 (.750) attempts from the free throw line.
 
Big Red once again dominated the glass – the few times a ball did not fall through the rim – outrebounding their hosts, 31-21, including eight offensive rebounds.  
 
Nicholls ended the night 26-of-54 (.481) from the field with nine three-pointers (9-of-23).
 
Joining Lee in double figures were senior Andrew Holifield (17 points), Cody Pennebaker (11), Braden East (10) and Errol White (10). East just missed another double-double with eight points.
 
It was an inauspicious start for the Red and White as Lamar turned the ball over on its first two possessions while Nicholls converted the mistakes into threes, but Lamar would settle down. After Nicholls jumped out to a 12-3 lead, Lamar went to work defensively. The Cardinals held Nicholls off the scoreboard on its next three possessions (after the Colonels started 4-of-5) which resulted in a 9-0 LU run to tie the game with 14:36 remaining in the half.
 
The Cardinals never took their foot off the accelerator Lee gave LU its first lead of the day, 17-16, on a three with less than 13:30 remaining in the half. Lamar's pushed its lead to four following an 18-4 run.
 
Lamar started the game 12-of-15 from field and 5-of-6 on threes as the Cardinals built as much as a nine-point first half lead. Lamar went into the locker room with a five-point lead, 45-40, after a half that saw it shoot better than 70 percent from the field (20-of-28/.714) including a 5-of-7 (.714) effort on threes. Lamar also held a 15-11 advantage on the glass with four offensive rebounds.
 
Nicholls managed to hang close in the opening 20 minutes after shooting nearly 47 percent from the field with six threes. They were also aided by going to the stripe 10 times in the first half connecting on eight attempts. On the flip side, Lamar went to the free throw line just twice in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Lamar started second half 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-4 from long range as Lamar held its lead through the early stages of the half. Both teams were shooting 50 percent from the field with eight minutes remaining before Pennebaker came up with a huge steal which led to a White layup. The transition basket gave Lamar an 11-point lead which grew to 13 following a Holifield fastbreak bucket following a Nicholls turnover with 3:53 remaining.
 
Nicholls made a late run trimming the deficit down to seven with less than two to play but Lamar hit its free throws and watched the lead balloon to 14 before the final score.
 
The Cardinals return to action Monday when they face New Orleans. The game against the Privateers is slated for a 7 p.m. start from Lakefront Arena and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live in ESPN+.