Lamar defeats Hou Christian 64-56

Christian Brothers Crusade in Montagne Center

The Lamar Cardinals fell just short of a stunning comeback, ultimately succumbing to the visiting Houston Christian Huskies by an 8-point margin on Wednesday evening at their home venue, Montagne Center.

Trailing by six points at halftime, the Cardinals erased that deficit with a furious second-half surge, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Huskies' early momentum. Lamar's inability to contain Houston Christian's offense proved costly in the end, as the visitors held on for a 64-56 victory.

In terms of shooting percentages, both teams struggled at times. The Cardinals managed just 45% from the field (20/44), while Houston Christian shot 34% (18/53). However, it was the Huskies who initially seized control, outscoring Lamar by three points in the first half and leading by eight at intermission.

One key factor contributing to the Huskies' success was their ability to contain Lamar's interior presence. The Cardinals struggled to find opportunities inside, as Houston Christian's defense held them to just 24 points in the paint.

On offense, Lamar relied heavily on its shooting percentages, making 39% of its three-point attempts (7/18) and holding a slight edge from free throw line (74.0% vs 70.0%). The Cardinals also managed to stay competitive by limiting Houston Christian's fast break opportunities.

Despite the deficit at halftime, Lamar's second-half comeback was nothing short of impressive. Behind the strong shooting of both its wings, the team was able to close the gap and force overtime before ultimately falling short in the end.

Houston Christian took advantage of Lamar's struggles on the glass as well, outrebounding their opponents 34-33 while limiting them to just four fast break points all night.

The loss drops Lamar to a key conference matchup.