LU can add to statement out west
Published 1:17 am Saturday, November 19, 2016
By now, Lamar has captured the attention of men’s college basketball powers on the West Coast with its 63-60 win at Oregon State on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals (2-0) can finish their two-game West Coast swing today with a win at Fresno State (1-1), where they dropped an 80-72 decision a year ago. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Central at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., and the Mountain West Conference Network will carry the game with KLVI-AM 560 broadcasting it on radio.
Lamar has not beaten Fresno State in two tries, the first coming in the 1981-82 season.
With a win today, the Cards can improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2008-09. Their 2-0 start is the best since 2010-11. All-time, Lamar has attained 950 victories.
Fresno State is led by senior swingman Paul Watson (19 points per game), senior forward Cullen Russo (17 ppg, 61.1 percent field-goal shooting) and junior guard Jaron Hopkins (13 ppg, 50 percent FG shooting).
Junior transfer Colton Weisbrod is averaging a double-double (15.5 points, 10 rebounds per game) for Lamar and should get the start along with Josh Nzeakor (12 ppg, 4 rpg) in the frontcourt, guards Marcus Owens, Torey Noel and Joey Frenchwood. Guard Nick Garth (11 ppg) has been steady off the bench for the Cardinals.
Fresno State is closing a challenging three-game homestand vs. Texas teams to start the season, having beaten UTSA 69-66 and lost to Prairie View A&M 84-78.
— I.C. Murrell