The Lamar State Seahawks notched one more conference win against Coastal Bend on Wednesday, defeating the Cougars 89-78. They hit the road once more to travel to Region XIV newcomer Victoria College for a Saturday game 4 p.m.

“Victoria is their first year in our league,” Seahawks head coach Lance Madison said. “San Jacinto College-Central had dropped their athletic program, … and so we lost a conference member and Victoria has replaced them in our conference.”

The Seahawks improved to 3-5 in their conference record with the Coastal Bend win on the heels of a 95-70 loss to Navarro College for their last away game last Saturday. While the Seahawks are just south of a .500 win percentage with a 9-10 overall record, Victoria College is still without a single win this season. The Pirates’ latest loss came at the hands of Angelina College on Wednesday, 97-60.

Across most of the board, the Seahawks show better numbers than the Pirates. Lamar State averages 77.3 points per game to the Pirates’ 66.8, shooting better from the field and making 41.4 percent of their field goals while the Pirates make 39.3 percent. Victoria edges out the Seahawks on 3s with 31.8% made to Lamar State’s 29.2%, but the Seahawks’ rate on rebounds is more robust, making 37.2 per game while the Pirates nab 21.5. The Pirates’ defense is also allowing 99.4 points a game compared to the 74.3 allowed by the Seahawks.

Jacob Brown, the Pirates’ only sophomore, leads his team in scoring with 18 points a game. Brown put up 23 points for the Pirates against Angelina College, followed by freshmen Larryon Forde, who added 14, and Kenyatis Turner, who added 13.

For the Seahawks, sophomore Devaughn Thomas continues as the top scorer with 16.2 points a game, with Memorial High School graduate Jamyus Jones behind him with 11.6. Devaughn brought 22 points to the Seahawks’ score against Coastal Bend on Wednesday, and Kanntrell Burney, who led in the Lamar State win against Trinity Valley on Jan. 3, put up 16 to come in second for scoring on Wednesday against Coastal Bend.

The Seahawks have nonetheless struggled to get wins while on the road with a 3-6 record on games played in a gym other than the Carl Parker Center. Madison says getting wins on the road will require the Seahawks playing better while on the road as well.

“They were a club team for a while, and now they have scholarships. This will be their first year in our league, so we’ll have to go down there and play on the road. They have a pretty nice facility, and we’ll have to play well on the road. You’ve got to play well to win.”