MEN’S BASKETBALL: Cards climb out of big hole, drop OT clash
Published 10:21 pm Wednesday, January 9, 2019
A 14-point lead for the University of New Orleans didn’t hold up, but Lamar could not complete its comeback and fell to the Privateers 78-71 in overtime Wednesday before 1,537 at the Montagne Center in Beaumont.
Lamar (8-8, 1-2 Southland) narrowed the big hole to 34-29 at halftime, but outscored UNO (7-7, 2-1) 31-26 to force overtime. The Cardinals went ahead 53-52 on a free throw by Josh Nzeakor and was leading 60-58 until Ezekiel Charles made a layup with 2 seconds to go in regulation.
In overtime, New Orleans jumped to a 67-62 lead behind Tyren Harrison’s three-point basket. Laquarious Paige answered from outside for Lamar, but the Cardinals came within no closer than 67-65.
Christian Barrett and Paige each had 16 points to lead the Cardinals. Barrett collected 12 rebounds and shot 8 of 14 in free throws. Nzeakor finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Charles led all scorers with 22 points. Bryson Robinson added 18, and Gerrale Gates and Damion Rosser 11 each for the Privateers.
Free-throw shooting cost the Cardinals, as they made only 24 of 39. They shot 22 for 59 from the floor, but was just 3 for 14 from three-point range. Their bench, however, outscored the Privateers’ 23-10.
New Orleans made 28 of 60 from the field, including 7 of 19 from the perimeter, and made 15 of 20 free throws.
Lamar will visit Central Arkansas for a 3 p.m. tipoff Saturday.
— I.C. Murrell
**UPDATES time of Saturday’s game due to it not being scheduled for telecast**
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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