BEAUMONT — Lamar coach Tic Price reminded the press that Zjori Bosha was recruited to be a shooter. Bosha played that role well in 23 minutes off the bench against Austin College on Saturday.

His play on the defensive end of the court is what earned him more playing time.

“He figured out quick how to get on the floor — with his defensive effort,” Price said. “He figured out you have to play on both ends of the court if you’re going to play here.”

Bosha, a 6-foot-5 junior wing, set a Lamar record with 10 steals in a 109-58 victory before 1,556 in the Montagne Center. He threw in 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 free-throw shooting.

“We lacked the energy to come out at the start, so I just made up my mind to come out and help my team on the defensive end,” the Hardin-Jefferson graduate said.

Bosha has also seen his playing time increase the past three games, playing double-digit minutes each outing.

He beat the previous record of eight, shared by three players. Tyran de Lattibeaudiere last matched that mark against Texas State on Nov. 19, 2014.

Colton Weisbrod, who led the Cardinals (5-4) with 18 points and eight rebounds, said Bosha’s record is not something to overlook.

“You don’t see that every day,” Weisbrod said. “People should take notice of that.”

Weisbrod and Bosha were two of five Cardinals in double-figure scoring. Freshman Cameron McGee had 16 points, Nick Garth 13 and Joey Frenchwood 11.

 

SLIDE ENDS

The Cards ended a three-game slide and improved their home record to 3-0 Saturday with the blowout. The final was almost identical to last season’s 101-58 LU rout in the team’s first-ever meeting.

Weisbrod agreed Saturday’s game was more like recess in the middle of Lamar’s finals week, which concludes Wednesday.

“It’s nice to come home when you’re stressed out from finals and everything, so to take your mind off it for an hour or two and compete is fun,” Weisbrod said. The Nederland and Lamar State College Port Arthur graduate shot 7 of 10 from the floor and 4 of 5 at the line.

Dorian Chatman of Port Arthur nearly registered a double-double with nine points and eight boards.

It was Lamar’s first game in the Montagne Center since a Nov. 22 win over UTSA. The Cards won their next game at Prairie View A&M, but struggled against then-winless Idaho State, San Francisco and DePaul on the road.

“We needed to be home and sleep in our own beds,” Price said.

 

TESTY ROOS

For more than 7 minutes, the Roos (2-5) had Lamar on the ropes, leading by as much as 12-4 and last leading 15-14. From there, Lamar went on a 21-0 run keyed by eight points from Garth.

“I never was too concerned [about the start],” Price said. “They [the Roos] played with emotions. You’ve got a Division III school playing a Division I school, it’s almost like their Super Bowl game. They want that win. That’s a huge win for a Division III school.”

It was a 55-28 halftime lead for the Cards, who started the second half with a 17-2 run to further put the game out of reach. The Cards shot 54.4 percent (37 of 68) from the field but struggled in foul shooting at 61.9 percent (26 of 42).

Austin, based in Sherman, shot 41.2 percent (21 of 51) from the floor and 58.8 percent (10 of 17) at the line. Brian Baehl was the only player in double figures for the Roos with 11.

 

HIGHLIGHT REEL

Lamar senior guard Lincoln Davis delivered a two-hand alley-oop jam off a feed from Chatman with 1:41 left in the game. Davis finished with four points.

 

NEXT FOR LAMAR

Following finals, Lamar will take a road trip to UT Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg for a Friday game. That will be followed by a three-game homestand to close the nonconference schedule.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews