Lamar falls 74-62 at Northwestern State

Senior guard Mike James poured in 18 points Wednesday night at Prather Coliseum, but Lamar University could not overcome a woeful shooting night in dropping a key Southland Conference men's basketball game 74-62 to Northwestern State.

Lamar managed to shoot just 32.9 percent from the floor in the game, including 1-of-12 from 3-point range. The Cards didn't limit their shooting problems to the floor as the usually strong free throw shooting team made just 13-of-25 from the charity stripe after entering the game at 73.2 percent.

The loss drops Lamar to 12-8 on the year, but more importantly, kept the Cardinals from keeping pace with NSU and McNeese State in the SLC East Division standings. Lamar now stands at 3-3 in conference play, while the Demons (11-9) and Cowboys are both 4-2.

After trailing 32-30 at the half, Lamar scored the first four points of the second half to grab a 34-32 lead. NSU responded with an 11-0 run to go ahead 43-34 with just under 16 minutes to play. Anthony Miles finally stopped the run with a pair of free throws at the 15:33 mark that made it 43-36.

"They really jumped on us (at the start of the second half)," said LU head coach Pat Knight. "We made some crucial mistakes on both ends of the floor and they got the run, but we killed ourselves. We missed way too many layups and way too many free throws."

Lamar continued to chip away and a James breakaway dunk at the 12:14 mark pulled the Cards to within four points at 48-44. The Demons scored 11 of the next 12 points to build their biggest lead of 59-45 with 8:25 to play.

The Cardinals made one final run as a Donley Minor jumper made it a 62-58 game with 4:40 to play, but Lamar would get no closer. NSU closed the game on a 12-4 run culminating with a James Hulbin dunk with nine seconds left. 

"The effort is good and that's what I told them," said Knight about the Cards not giving up after trailing by 14. "The effort is there and really the defense is there, but we've just got to do a better job of playing smarter. That's a good team we played there, but I really feel like we're beating ourselves."