NATCHITOCHES — Lamar jumped out early and never fully relinquished control Monday night as the Cardinals defeated the Northwestern State men's basketball team 76–61 on Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum in Southland Conference action.
NSU (3-9, 1-2) jumped the Cardinals (6-6, 1-2) quickly out the gate, scoring on their first three possessions before Lamar took over.
The Cardinals and the Demons played a bit of a back-and-forth battle in the first half, with the Demons leading by one in the opening six minutes of play. After a Cody Pennebaker jumper, Lamar started to find its rhythm.
The Cardinals closed the opening half on a surge, scoring on five of their final six possessions to carry a 44–25 lead into the locker room.
"They lost four straight and played like it," third-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. "We played like we had won four straight, and it was time to be cool. We're not good enough to be cool."
Northwestern struggled to find consistency offensively in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 38.1 percent from the field, while Lamar connected at a 63 percent clip before halftime. The Demons remained competitive at the free-throw line but were unable to slow Lamar's interior attack and perimeter shooting.
"I thought we were trending in the right direction defensively the last three games," Cabrera said. "But when you give up 57 percent from the floor, you're never going to win a game like that."
The Demons showed renewed energy coming out of the break, opening the second half with an early burst to trim the deficit. Back-to-back baskets by Izzy Miles and Micah Thomas sparked a 7–0 run that brought Northwestern within striking distance, forcing Lamar to call a timeout.
There was an eight-minute stretch in the second half where Northwestern's defensive intensity improved, allowing the Demons to gain momentum behind improved ball movement and pressure.
"We have good offensive players, but that's not our mojo," Cabrera said. "We have to guard. When we don't guard, this is what happens."
Lamar answered each push with timely shot-making, however, restoring control whenever Northwestern threatened.
Midway through the second half, the Demons again cut into the margin behind strong play from Thomas and Miles, but the Cardinals continued to execute down the stretch.
Thomas finished with 16 points, attacking the rim and creating opportunities, while Miles led Northwestern with 17 points, consistently pressuring the defense. Justin Redmond added nine points, knocking down two 3-pointers, while Chris Mubiru provided a presence inside as the Demons showed resilience after halftime.
Despite being outscored 36–32 in the second half, Lamar maintained control by converting key possessions late. Rob Lee Jr. led all scorers with 19 points, while King-Njhsanni Wilhite added 14 points and Pennebaker chipped in 12 points.
Lamar finished the night shooting 57.4 percent from the field and held a 34–26 advantage in points in the paint, with its early efficiency proving too much to overcome despite Northwestern's improved second-half effort.
"This loss is on me," Cabrera said. "Those are my guys, and I believe in them. We'll be better."
Northwestern State has a quick turnaround, remaining in Natchitoches to host Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
