Lamar sports information
BEAUMONT – New Mexico transfer Jordan Hunter scored a game-high 18 points to lead the White team to a 61-48 victory over the Red team in Lamar’s annual Red vs. White scrimmage. The exhibition allows fans an early preview of what to expect from Cardinals basketball for the upcoming season.

Hunter was one of four Cardinals to finish the night in double figures – two for each team – as the White squad shot 50 percent from the field. Hunter was joined in double figures by teammate Torey Noel who scored 11 points and dished out a game-high eight assists. Junior Josh Nzeakor just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.

While the White team was 25-of-50 from the field, that didn’t translate into success from beyond the arc converting just 6-of-20 (.300) three-point attempts on the night.

The White squad did the majority of its damage from point-blank range outscoring the Red team, 34-15 in the paint. The White squad also held a 12-point advantage in second chance points (16-4), while outrebounding their counterparts, 27-19, on the night.

Led by 17 points from senior Colton Weisbrod, the Red team was 18-of-37 (.486) from the field and nearly 50 percent from three-point range (6-13/.462). Junior Nick Garth scored 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting. He also dished out four assists on the night. Indiana State transfer Laquarious Paige added nine points on 4-of-6 shooting.

“There was not a lot of defense tonight,” said LU head coach Tic Price. “You and I can walk into a gym and shoot 50 percent with no one guarding us, but this is a scrimmage and that will happen. Having said that, it is something that has to get corrected quickly. You can’t allow teams to come in and shoot like that, especially not in our league.”

The Cardinals combined for 31 turnovers on the night (19 by the Red squad). The two teams combined for 32 points off of the mistakes.

“We sat Joey (Frenchwood) out tonight,” said Price. “Had we used him tonight that number would have been less – he has that ability to calm our guys down. It is good for Torey Noel to get these reps because he has really been a glue guy for us during preseason camp this year.”

The contest remained a close back and forth affair for the majority of the night. The Red held the lead for the majority of the first half before senior Zjori Bosha hit a three-pointer with 1:15 remaining in the opening 15 minutes to give the White team a one-point lead, 28-27. After tying the game up, the White got a basket from Hunter with three seconds on the clock to take a two-point lead into the locker room, 32-30.

The White team built its lead to as many as five before the Red squad got a basket from Paige and an and-one from Weisbrod to tie the game at 42 with 8:30 remaining. The White team responded by going on a 14-4 run and never looked back recording a 13-point victory Tuesday evening.

The Cardinals tip off the 2017-18 regular season Friday, Nov. 10th when they travel to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane. The game against Tulsa is slated to begin at noon.