Tempers flared throughout the second half of the Battle of the Border matchup against McNeese State, March 1. Things got even more heated once the whistle blew on the Cardinals’ two-point loss when McNeese’s Quadir Copeland went to the half-court to step on the LU logo. But the Cardinals defended their nest gathering around and forcing Copeland back.
Once everything seemed to have settled, Copeland made a finger gun gesture, shooting at the LU logo which infuriated the LU players. McNeese head coach Will Wade had to restrain Copeland, and LUPD stepped in to stop the situation escalating.
“ What we're not going to do is allow anybody to come in our building and disrespect our LU,” Cardinal head coach Alvin Brooks said after the 66-68 loss. “ I told them that from the very beginning, I don't care who it is, nobody comes in our building and does that. I told them that before the game. So, what you saw was at first they were talking to us on the bench. And then you saw one of the (McNeese) guys go and try to just step on our LU. That's kind of when the issue started. So, I fully support my guys and their efforts to support and respect our university. But that helps our guys understand we're capable of beating this team.”
As if the traditional rivalry was not enough, the game started with the teams in the top two spots in the Southland Conference.
The Cardinals got off to a hot start, going on an 8-2 run in the first six minutes of the game against the Cowboys who has already wrapped up the regular-season title. LU led early until the eighth minute when the Cowboys tied the game at 18.
That didn't stop the Cardinals, as LU guard Alexis Marmolejos scored two three-pointers to take the lead back to 26-22. The Cards kept fighting and ended the first half leading 35-31.
“ I thought we played hard and competitive in the first half,” Brooks said. “I thought the first 10-12 minutes of the second half, we kind of put ourselves in a hole. We couldn't make a shot and defensively we came a little lax, and that's when McNeese made a run, and they got up 11 or so on us.”
LU scored the first three points of the half, but the Cowboys went on a 13-0 run to take a six-point lead. McNeese’s lead grew to 11 and the Cards could not get closer than eight until Marmolejos’ scored a three pointer with four minutes to play to give the momentum back to the Cardinals.
As tensions grew and both teams chirped bad temperedly at each other, the Cards kept scratching and clawing at the Cowboys defense, scoring the next seven points to tie the game at 59 on an Adam Hamilton dunk. Lamar kept it a one possession game until two McNeese free throws at the final seconds of the game gave them a five-point lead.
Marmolejos’ buzzer-beating three from half court was mere consolation.
“ Once we started playing with a little bit more pace on the offensive end in the second half, the ball started going in the basket, then we picked it back up,” Brooks said. “And the little skirmish that ensued late in the second half, I'd say motivated my guys to kind of play a little bit harder and protect home court. And so we came all the way back, tied it up, and had a chance to win it.”
Lamar ended the night shooting 22-of-61 from the field with nine three-pointers. LU also shot 13-of-15 attempts at the free throw line. The Cardinals led the game in second chance points with 16 but turned the ball over 11 times.
LU guard Ja’Sean Jackson finished the game with 19 points and five assists. Joining him in double figures were Marmolejos with 18 and Hamilton with 12 and eight rebounds.
Lamar are now 18-12 overall and 13-6 in SLC play where they sit in second place in the conference standings.
The Cardinals play their last game of the season, fighting for second place in the standings against Nicholls State, March 3, at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The game is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.