BEAUMONT, Texas – Senior
Quante Berry and junior
Abeeng Agot scored 23 points and freshman
Martin Minarovjech recorded a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) as Lamar University defeated Centenary, 122-57, Wednesday evening at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center.
The Cardinals have played two games in Neches Arena this season passing the 100-point plateau in both.
Lamar was 40-of-94 (.426) from the field with 18 of their makes coming from three-point range, which is the third-best single-game mark in program history. LU also converted 24-of-31 attempts from the free throw line. The Cardinals dominated the glass to the tune of 69-33, pulling down more offensive rebounds (37) than their opponent had in total.
LU's defense was stifling holding the Gents to a 20-of-62 (.323) performance from the field and 5-of-22 (.227) from long range. The Cardinals recorded 18 steals and forced Centenary into 28 turnovers. Big Red cashed those 28 miscues in for 37 points.
"I thought it took a minute for us to separate ourselves tonight," said LU head coach Jordan Fee. "Even during that early stretch before we separated, I thought we were doing some of the right stuff. It's just that the flood gates hadn't opened yet. I think our pressure eventually wore on them.
"We've been able to play a lot of different lineups - still trying to figure things out with personnel - but I think we did a good job of staying true to who we are and not getting outside of ourselves. We stayed relentless with our pressure and eventually managed to wear them down," added Fee.
Joining Berry, Agot and Minarovjech in double figures were senior
Caden Hinker and junior
Dominic Eason. Both finished the night with 14 points.
After the Gents scored the game's opening basket (a three ball), Lamar answered with a 30-5 run and never looked back. Big Red continued to push its advantage taking a 65-26 lead into the locker room. The deficit never got back below 40 in the second half.
The Cardinals will now hit the road for the rest of the month. Lamar will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to Omaha, Neb., to take on the University of Omaha Mavericks. The contest against the Mavericks will tip off at 7 p.m.
#PeckEmCards
