BEAUMONT, Texas – Senior Colton Weisbrod scored a game-high 28 points, but Lamar University was unable to overcome a Nicholls’ squad that shot better than 60 percent from the field. The Cardinals (12-9/4-4 Southland) dropped a five-point decision, 79-74, to the league-leading Colonels Wednesday evening at the Montagne Center.

Nicholls finished the game 29-of-48 (.604) from the field, including a 6-of-12 (.500) performance on three-pointers, which allowed them to overcome 27 turnovers. The Cardinals didn’t make their guests pay for the miscues scoring just 28 points off turnovers.

The Colonels (13-9/7-1 SLC) were led by 28 points from Roddy Peters and 22 points and 16 rebounds from Tevon Sadler.

The Cardinals finished the night 22-of-61 (.361) from the field and just 8-of-25 (.320) from three-point range. Despite being outrebounded by nine, 39-30, the Cardinals pulled down nearly twice as many offensive rebounds, 11-6. Despite their advantage on the offensive glass, the Cards could only turn that into an 8-7 edge in second chance points.

Weisbrod scored 28 points to lead the Red and White, but 23 of his points came in the game’s opening 20 minutes. He also finished the night with six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Weisbrod was joined in double figures by junior Nick Garth (15 points), who got the start Wednesday, and Josh Nzeakor (12 points and nine rebounds).

“You get what you earn, and we did not earn the right to win this game tonight,” said LU head coach Tic Price. “Defensively, we didn’t make stops consistently. I’m real disappointed. We’re big on winning the four-minute games (between timeouts) and we didn’t do that. They turned the ball over 27 times and we didn’t make them pay for those mistakes.”

LU jumped out of the gate slowly falling behind by 11 points, 21-10, but unlike Saturday they didn’t allow their opponent to maintain that advantage for long. Big Red went to work chipping away at the deficit and took their first lead of the game at the 5:52 mark, 31-29. The Cardinals utilized a 16-4 run, sparked by some clutch free throws. Seven of the 16 points during the run came from the free throw line, and the run was capped by a Weisbrod three-pointer – one of two in the opening half.

It was a back-n-forth affair for the final 5:52 of the half that saw Nicholls take a three-point advantage into the locker room, 45-42.

The Colonels’ lead didn’t last long as LU opened the second half by forcing three turnovers on their first two possessions and the Cards took advantage by scoring the first five points of the half.

Nicholls responded to the small run to reclaim the lead. The Colonels pushed their advantage to nine, 58-49, and went to the free throw line looking to make it a double-digit lead, but Peters missed his free throw. LU got the rebound and scored the games next six points, including a James Harrison three-ball to pull within three, 58-55, with less than 11 minutes remaining.

Despite the small run, the Cardinals would not reclaim the lead again until the 5:12 mark when Weisbrod hit two free throws. Big Red would hold the lead for the next 90 seconds and went to the free throw line looking to take a five-point lead with 3:35 to play, but both free throws were off target and the Colonels seized control of the game from that point.

 

Nicholls got an and-one on their next possession to tie the game at 70, and took the lead on the following possession. It would be the final lead change of the game as Nicholls outscored LU, 12-4, in the game’s final 3:21.

The Cardinals will look to regroup Saturday against rival McNeese. The game against the Cowboys will tip off at 4:30 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It can be heard live on Newstalk 560 and seen live on ESPN3.