Lamar defeats Incarnate Word 63-51

Lamar Edges Incarnate Word in Conference Thriller

The Montagne Center was electric on Tuesday night as the Lamar Cardinals hosted their conference rivals, the Incarnate Word Coyotes. The home team came out strong, leading by as many as 16 points in the second half before the visiting Coyotes made a late push to cut the deficit.

Lamar's Braden East led the way for his team, scoring 23 points on 53.8% shooting from the field. East's efficiency was complemented by Rob Lee Jr.'s all-around performance, as he added 7 rebounds, 13 points, and 5 assists.

For Incarnate Word, Tahj Staveskie led the way with 11 points, but struggled with his three-point shot, going just 2-6 from beyond the arc. Harold Woods chipped in with 9 points and 8 rebounds, while Tahj Staveskie added 7 assists to round out the Coyotes' top performers.

The game was a balanced affair, with both teams shooting well from different areas of the court. Lamar's two-pointers were particularly effective, as they converted 17-39 attempts (43.6%) compared to Incarnate Word's 15-36 (41.7%). The Cardinals also excelled on the glass, grabbing 26 defensive rebounds.

In contrast, Incarnate Word struggled with turnovers, committing 12 in the game. Lamar capitalized on this, scoring 11 points off their opponents' miscues.

As the clock ticked down, it seemed as though the Coyotes might be able to mount a comeback. However, Lamar's defense stiffened, and they held off the visitors to claim a 12-point victory.

The final score was 63-51 in favor of Lamar, with the Cardinals' largest lead coming at 16 points in the second half. The win improves their conference standing, while Incarnate Word falls to 0-1 in conference play.

With this victory, Lamar takes control of their conference matchup, setting themselves up for a strong season. For Incarnate Word, they'll look to bounce back from this tough loss and get back on track against a challenging schedule.