Feb. 7, 2008

Final Stats

THIBODAUX, La. - The Colonels fell victim in overtime for the second consecutive game at home when Lamar defeated Nicholls 72-68 on Thursday evening in Stopher Gym.

The Cardinals (12-8, 6-1) scored their last 14 points of the game from the charity strip, which included all 11 overtime points. Lamar only had one field goal attempt in the extra period, which was a misfired three-ball by Kenny Dawkins in the early goings of overtime. The Colonels (6-17, 1-7) went 2-for-6 from the floor, 0-for-2 from three-point territory and converted 3-of-6 free throw attempts in the additional five minutes.

Both teams entered overtime tied at 61 as each team led a half by a point. Lamar led at half time, 29-28, while the Nicholls outscored the Cardinals, 33-32, in the second stanza.

"I thought that we played great as a team, and that both teams really competed tonight," said head coach J.P. Piper. "It just goes to show you the parody that is in our conference; that any given night, everyone is capable of winning and everyone is capable of losing."

Junior Ryan Bathie was honored before the game for breaking Robert Lee's career three-pointers mark in the Colonels' battle against the Demons last Thursday. His parents, Ian and Kerryn, were in attendance all the way from Australia, and accompanied him on the floor in pre-game introductions while he was honored.

Bathie had a game-high 22 points in the loss to go along with his four rebounds in 40 minutes on the court. The Melbourne, Australia native now has 182 made three-points after tonight's game.

The only other Colonel in double-figures was true freshman Anatoly Bose, who crossed the 10-point barrier for the 10th consecutive game in his young career. Bose had 18 points and was a rebound shy of a double-double in 33 minutes on the floor. Dominic Friend, Adonis Gray, and reserve Kellan Carter each rung up seven points as they were the next closest to the decade mark.

Lamar only had two players in double-digits, but Kenny Dawkins' 20 and Lamar Sanders' 14 proved to be enough to propel the Cardinals to their fifth straight win while sending Nicholls to their seventh straight loss. The Cardinals' Darren Hopkins and Justin Nabors each had 10 rebounds to go along with eight points.

As a team, Lamar shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the floor for the game while Nicholls finished with a 39.3 percent (24-of-61) mark from field goal range. The difference in the game came at the free throw line as the Cardinals connected on 21-of-35 freebies while the Colonels only made due on 13-of-22. Nicholls dominated points in the paint, 30-to-16, but lost the bench battle, 25-to-12.

The Colonels will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to McNeese State to play the Cowboys on Cox Sports Television at 3 p.m.

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