MEN’S BASKETBALL: Roadrunners speed past Cards despite Nzeakor’s 26

Published 12:50 am Friday, December 14, 2018

Lamar sports information

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Junior Josh Nzeakor scored a career-high 26 points, but Lamar University couldn’t overcome a 19-7 second half Cal State Bakersfield run as the Roadrunners posted an 86-65 victory Thursday evening at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield.

“I thought we did a decent job of limiting their looks in the first half,” said LU head coach Tic Price. “But, we allowed them to come out in the second half and score 56. Bakersfield is a very tough team, and they play hard until the final horn. We didn’t match their toughness tonight. They imposed their will on us in the second half.”

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Nzeakor was one of two Cardinals in double-figures as LU finished the night shooting 38 percent from the field, but only 3 of 12 (.250) from beyond the three-point arc. Big Red also went to the free throw line 39 times Thursday but could only convert 67 percent of their attempts. LU dominated the glass with a 35-29 advantage, including 15 offensive boards. The Cardinals were led by 11 rebounds from Nzeakor.

The Roadrunners shot better than 55 percent from the field after a second half that saw them convert 21-of-30 attempts. CSUB was also aided by 23 turnovers which they converted into 29 points. Bakersfield finished the night with five players in double figures led by 20 points from Ricky Holden.

The Cardinals got out to a strong start knocking down their first three attempts of the game (including a three-pointer) and did a great job of getting on the glass taking a 31-23 advantage on the boards into the intermission. The first 20 minutes of the contest was an evenly matched affair that saw both teams hold a lead but neither team gain an advantage of more than six points.

The game was still very much up for grabs early in the second half before the Roadrunners went on a 19-7 run to build a double-digit advantage. LU never recovered from the run as Bakersfield pushed its lead to as many as 23 in the second half.

The Cardinals will be back in action Wednesday when they return home to host Texas Southern. The game against the Tigers will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center, and will open a three-game home stand.