March 6, 2008

Box Score

BEAUMONT, Tex. - Lamar used a big first half to edge Nicholls 84-67 in the Montagne Center despite a strong effort in the second half by the Colonels.

The Colonels (9-21, 4-11) trailed 46-26 at halftime as the Cardinals (19-9, 13-2) seemed unstoppable from downtown as they shot 76.9 percent (10-of-13) after the first 20 minutes. Lamar finished the game with a 65.4 percent (17-of-26) mark from three-point range.

Despite trailing by 20 points at the half, Nicholls rallied in the second half as they cut the lead to 10, 56-46, at the 9:52 mark of the second period. However, the Cardinals went on a 15-3 run over the next four minutes to bring their lead to 22 points, 71-49, with 4:37 left to play.

Leading the Colonels in scoring was true freshman Anatoly Bose with 18 points off the bench. Bose also had a team best six rebounds while also going 4-of-5 from three-point range. Following Bose in double-digits was senior Adonis Gray with 16 points and four rebounds. Gray will be playing his final game in a Colonel uniform on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Stopher Gym against McNeese State.

After only playing nine minutes in the first half, junior Ryan Bathie came on in the second half as he rounded out the Colonels 10-plus scorers with 13. Bathie was 3-of-7 from three-point range to give him 204 career three-pointers.

LU's Lamar Sanders didn't lead the Cardinals in scoring, but almost recorded the rare triple-double with eight points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Toping all scorers was the Cardinals' Kenny Dawkins with 24 while Darren Hopkins had 20. Rounding out Lamar's double-figure scorers was Todd Currye with 16. Dawkins, Hopkins, and Currye combined for a 14-for-22 showing from behind the arc.

The Colonels will be back in action on Saturday against McNeese State at 5 p.m.

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