Lamar State sports information

Lamar State College Port Arthur coaches weren’t looking for perfection Wednesday night, but that’s pretty close to what they got in sophomore transfer Rodney Brown in a 97-66 season-opening win over the Houston Gladiators at the Carl Parker Center in Port Arthur.

Brown, a West Brook graduate and Huston-Tillotson University transfer, hit 9 of 10 from the field, including 1 of 1 from three-point range, and 2 of 3 from the free throw line as he led all scorers with 21 points. He was one of four players in double figures for the Seahawks with all but one on the roster scoring points as they fell just short of the century mark.

The Hawks, now 1-0 to open the year, jumped out quickly, leading by as many as 12 within the first five minutes as San Antonio freshman Ethan White and Silsbee sophomore Tra Grubbs knocked down three-pointers to keep the Gladiators’ defense stretched out. White finished with 8 points and Grubbs 10.

Once the Gladiators spread the floor to defend the long ball, the Seahawks went inside to Brown and 6-foot-11 center Matej Gaspert. The Croatian sophomore finished with 13 points and three rebounds.

Jase Miguez, a Nederland High School product, was good all over the court, hitting 5 of 9 from the field, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.

The Gladiators, an all-star club team from the Houston area, managed a comeback midway through the first half, pulling to within three at 29-26 thanks in great part to George Jackson’s 15 points and nine rebounds. Gladiator Nathen Anthony added 14 points. But the Seahawks proved to be too much down the stretch, leading by as many as 36 in the second half.

The Seahawks return to action with a weekend trip to the Texas East-West Challenge in Lewisville. LSCPA faces South Plains Community College at 11 a.m. Saturday and Clarendon College at 11 a.m. Sunday before coming back to Port Arthur for a three-game home stand.