MEN’S BASKETBALL: Cards bow out of CIT for 2nd straight year
Published 11:58 pm Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Lamar sports information
SAN ANTONIO – Junior Nick Garth came off the bench to score a game-high 16 points, and senior Colton Weisbrod recorded his eighth double-double of the season but Lamar came up just short to UTSA Wednesday evening, 76-69, in the opening round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). It marks the second-straight season the Cardinals have qualified for the postseason.
The Cardinals (19-14) finished the night 26-of-67 (.388) from the field, including eight three-pointers, but had no answer for a UTSA squad that shot nearly 60 percent in the second half. The Roadrunners finished the night 26-of-55 (.473) from the field, and overcame a slow start from long range to hit eight three-pointers.
The Cardinals finished the night with four players in double figures, led by Garth’s 16. Weisbrod finished the night with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while senior Joey Frenchwood and junior Josh Nzeakor each chipped in 13. Nzeakor finished a rebound shy of a double-double.
Deon Lyle led a group of four Roadrunners in double figures with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
“This is the second consecutive year that we’ve received a postseason bid and we value the opportunity to be able to play in the postseason, but as a program we have to take that next step,” said LU head coach Tic Price. “I felt like we lost our focus and our poise when they made their run in the second half. We called a timeout and you could tell when they came over to the bench they looked dejected. We tried to get them back.”
UTSA was 12 of 31 (.387) from the field in the first half and struggled from three-point range early but began to heat up as the half wore on. The ‘Runners finished the half 5 of 19 (.263) on three-pointers.
Trailing by seven, the Cardinals caught a break when UTSA was called for an offensive foul. UTSA head coach Steve Henson erupted off the bench and was assessed a technical foul. Garth converted the two free throws and the Cardinals also scored a basket on the ensuing possession to trim the deficit down to only three points, 55-52.
The Cardinals end the season with their second consecutive 19-win campaign. It marks the first time since the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons that LU has at least 19 games in consecutive seasons.
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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