ATHENS, Ohio -- Things are rapidly going from bad to worse for Lamar University on an ambitious four-game road trip that's exposing the Cardinals youth and inexperience.
The Cardinals, on the heels of a 23-point beating at Texas Tech Saturday night, took it on the chin by 25 -- 71-46 -- from Ohio University Monday night. Unfortunately, they still have one more stop to make Wednesday night in Huntington, W. Va., against Marshall.
Perhaps the best way to underscore LU's ineptitude against the Bobcats is to point out they had four more turnovers (20) than field goals (16). The Cardinals put up 63 shots to sink those 16 field goals, which tabulates to a frigid 25.4 percent. They were an even worse 16.7 (2-of-12) on treys.
LU coach Steve Roccaforte summed it up quickly on his post-game radio show.
"We didn't do anything in any area good enough to win on the road."
With the loss, Lamar dropped to 2-3 on the season. Ohio. a team Lamar defeated 76-67 last year in Louisville, improved to 4-0.
Charlie Harper was the only player who managed to reach double figures for the Cardinals. Harper sank 4-of-8 shots on the way to scoring 11 points. Anthony Miles, who was 2-of-8 from the field, added 7 and Kendrick Harris (2-of-7) scored 6.
Justin Nabors, who is clearly struggling to regain his form of two years ago, made only 2-of-8 shots and scored 5 points. Nabors did lead the Cardinals with 9 rebounds. Senior Lawrence Nwevo had the worst stat line, making 1-of-9 shots, scoring 2 points and getting 1 rebound.
Things began to unravel for the Cardinals at the 10:39 mark of the opening period, after Harper scored from in close for a 15-8 lead. LU managed only eight points the remainder of the half and left on the short end of a 24-23 score.
Lamar was still hanging around, trailing only 38-32 with 12:29 to play, when the bottom fell out. The Bobcats would outscore the Cardnals 33-13 the rest of the way. And they won big, despite having a miserable night with their best
weapon -- the 3-point shot. They made only 3-of-17.
Freshman D.J. Cooper did the most damage to Lamar, putting together a stat line that showed 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots. Not bad for somebody who goes 5-9, 165.
For Lamar, about the only positive was improving on back-to-back poor performances at the foul line. They sank 12-of-16. But in the big picture that was of little consolation. -- BOB WEST
