Lamar downs McNeese State in Southland final

Published November 20, 2014

Mike James posted a game-high 26 points to go with 49 decision over McNeese State in the Southland final.

Devon Lamb added 12 points and Osas Ebomwonyi totaled nine points and nine boards for the Cardinals (23-11),

Patrick Richard scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds for the Cowboys (17-15), who gained the final by knocking off top seed Texas- Arlington on Friday.

Dontae Cannon had 13 points in a losing cause.

A 19-2 run spread out over eight minutes later in the first half gave Lamar control of the contest for good.

Down 13-10, Anthony Miles started the run with a deuce, Lamb hit two from the line, and after an Adrian Fields layup accounted for McNeese's lone answer, the Cardinals ripped off 15 in a row -- six alone by James -- then Stan Brown capped the burst on his layup with 3:32 left for a 29-15 game.

Lamar led 33-21 at the break.

Richard's free throw got the Cowboys within 35-33 early in the second half, but James scored four in a row and Lamar righted itself on a 17-6 run which left it ahead 52-39 with 7 1/2 minutes left on a James lay-in.

The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the game.

Cannon totaled five points and Richard four as McNeese State led 13-8 in the early stages.

Game Notes

Lamar has taken a 50-42 edge in the all-time series and won two of three this season from McNeese State...McNeese hasn't won the league playoff title since 2002 but lost to UTA in last year's championship...Saturday's game marked the first time both schools have met in the Southland tourney final.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lamar-downs-mcneese-state-in-southland-final