Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – Senior Nick Garth scored a game-high 24 points as Lamar jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back defeating Howard Payne, 121-32, at the Montagne Center Friday evening. It was the final game before the team breaks for the Christmas holiday.

The Cardinals shot better than 57 percent from the field (44 of 77), including 10 three-pointers. LU also dominated the glass outrebounding the Yellow Jackets, 50-29.

As impressive as the Cards were offensively, they were even more explosive on the defensive end. The Red and White held HPU to a 13-of-50 (.260) performance from the field, and just a 2-of-17 (.118) mark on three-pointers.

The Cardinals (6-6) finished the night with five players in double figures. Garth led the way followed by Josh Nzeakor and Laquarious Paige with 18. Junior T.J. Atwood (13) and Christian Barrett (12) also scored in double figures. Barrett recorded his first career double-double with 12 rebounds.

The Cardinals jumped out of the gates quickly opening the game on a 8-0 run before Howard Payne was able to dent the scoreboard – from the free throw line. The Yellow Jackets struggled to even get a shot off in the opening moments of the game turning it over three times and not recording a field goal attempt until more than two minutes into the contest.

The Cardinals continued their hot start pushing their lead to 23-1 before HPU was able to string together a couple of baskets — HPU didn’t score its first field goal until 11:31 mark of the first half. LU opened the game knocking down 11 of their first 19 attempts (.579), while HPU continued to struggle just to hang on to the ball.

While LU started the game on fire, the Yellow Jackets were struggling at the opposite end of the spectrum. HPU managed to knock down just two its first 10 attempts, and turned the ball over 13 times in the first 11 minutes of the game. The Cardinals carried that momentum into the locker room with a 47-13 advantage.

The Cardinals finished the opening half shooting 17-of-36 (.472), while holding their guests to a 5-of-22 performance. The Yellow Jackets were also forced into 22 turnovers in the first half.

It was more of the same in the second half as the Red and White opened on a 13-4 run, and Howard Payne never seriously threatened.

The Cardinals return to action Saturday, Dec. 29, when they will close out the non-conference portion of the season against Champion Christian. The game against Champion is slated to tip off 2 p.m. from the Montagne Center.