The Port Arthur News
JONESBORO, ARK. —
Lamar University will look for its second straight win
Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center when the men’s basketball team
continues its rivalry with former conference foe Arkansas State at 2:05 p.m.
The Cardinals carry a 1-4 record into the contest after picking up their first
win of the season by an 86-82 score over IUPUI in a fourth-round NIT Season
Tip-Off game. Sunday’s game will be carried live in the Beaumont area on KLVI
560 AM.
Arkansas State (3-1) is Lamar’s second most common opponent behind only
McNeese State. The two schools, who used to battle as members of the Southland
Conference and Sun Belt Conference, have met 90 times with Lamar owning a 46-34
series advantage.
Lamar has won five of the last six meetings, including a 65-62 win last year in
the Montagne Center. The Red Wolves hold a 25-13 advantage in Jonesboro and won
78-75 two years ago when they last met in the Convocation Center.
Lamar had its most complete game Tuesday in the win over IUPUI, shooting 49.3
percent from the floor and committing a season-low 13 turnovers. The Cardinals
outrebounded the Jaguars 37-28 and finished with a 14-4 advantage in second
chance points.
Senior guard Donley Minor, who is second on the team in scoring at 11.0 points
per game, scored a career-high 22 points against the Jaguars. Five other
Cardinals scored at least 10 points against IUPUI as Lamar rode its balanced
offense to victory.
Even after the 86-point effort against IUPUI, the Cardinals still carry a 58.6
points per game scoring average while allowing 73.6 points per game. Lamar is
averaging 37.8 rebounds per game and grabbing three boards per contest more than
its opponents.
Redshirt freshman Rhon Mitchell leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 12.0
points and 6.6 rebounds per game, respectively. The 6-foot-5 forward has scored
in double-figures in four of Lamar’s five games and has the Cardinals’ only
double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 boards at Charlotte.
Freshman Donnell Minton has started the last three games at point guard for the
Cardinals and is averaging 5.8 points and 2.6 assists per game. Minton proved
clutch in Tuesday’s victory as he calmly knocked down six straight free throws
in the game’s final 32 seconds to clinch the win.
The Red Wolves, who are coached by John Brady in his fifth season, are coming
off a 73-72 win at Central Arkansas on Wednesday evening. ASU is scoring just
under 72 points per game and allowing 66.5 to its opponents.
Lamar, which will play its first 11 games of the season away from home, will
continue road play Tuesday evening with a game at Alabama.
