Lamar Hosts Incarnate Word in Exhibition Action Saturday Night

[Guest abovetherim]

The Cardinals will also play Central Oklahoma in an exhibition game Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

Nov. 2, 2007

Lamar's Game Notes vs. Incarnate Word

BEAUMONT - After playing a pair of scrimmages, Lamar University will get its first taste of competition from an opponent other than themselves when the Cardinals host Incarnate Word Saturday at 7 p.m. in exhibition men's basketball action at the Montagne Center.

Lamar will also host Central Oklahoma in exhibition action Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. The Cardinals open the regular season, the 57th as a four-year institution, Nov. 13 when LeTourneau University visits the Montagne Center for a 7 p.m. game.

Newcomers made a big impact in the two Red/White scrimmages. Juniors Jay Brown (Griffin, Ga./L.A. City College), Kenny Dawkins (Holly Springs, Miss./Arizona Western College) and Justin Nabors (Holly Springs, Miss./Northwest Mississippi CC) all played very well for the Cardinals.

Brown averaged 29.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg in the two scrimmages. He shot 67.6% (23-34) from the field, 55.5% (5-9) from 3-point range and 87.5 (7-8) from the free throw line. He scored 28 points on 10 of 14 shooting in the first scrimmage and tallied 24 points on 10 of 15 shooting in the second half of the second scrimmage.

Nabors averaged 14.5 ppg and 15.0 rpg, and made 11 of 12 free throws (.917). He recorded double-doubles in both scrimmages with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the first scrimmage and 17 points and 17 rebounds in the second scrimmage.

Dawkins averaged 22.5 ppg 6.0 apg, 5.0 rpg and 4.0 spg. He shot 73.1% (19-26) from the field, 4 of 4 from 3-point range and 75% (3-4) from the free throw line. He scored 28 points on 13 of 16 shooting from the field in the first scrimmage and had 17 points and eight assists in the second scrimmage.

The Cardinals will still look to veterans Lamar Sanders and Darren Hopkins to provide leadership and stability on the court. Sanders, a 6-6 senior forward, averaged 12.2 ppg and 9.8 rpg, which led the SLC and ranked 12th in the NCAA, last season. He was named to the preseason all-SLC first team this season after earning second-team all-SLC honors and being named SLC newcomer of the year last season.

Hopkins, a 6-2 senior guard, is the team's leading returning scorer at 13.4 ppg. He shot 43.5 percent from three-point range last season, tied for second in steals (27) and was third in assists (89).

As a team, Lamar averaged 74.0 ppg and shot 43.8 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from 3-point range and 64.5 percent from the free throw line last season. The Cardinals outrebounded their opponents 38.4 to 37.4.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Lamar and Incarnate Word, who also has the nickname Cardinals. UIW posted an 18-11 record last season under first-year coach Ken Burmeister, who also had head coaching stops at UTSA (1986-90), Loyola-Chicago (1994-98) and Trinity (1998-99).

Sophomore Pierce Caldwell is the lone returning starter for UIW. He is the team's leading returning scorer at 11.6 ppg and averaged 2.9 rpg. He shot 42.7% (106-248) from the field, 44.6% (78-175) from 3-point range and 78% (46-59) from the free throw line.

As a team, UIW averaged 73.8 ppg and shot 46.6% from the field, 39% from 3-point range and 67.3% from the free throw line. The Cardinals outrebounded their opponents 36.3 to 33.9.

http://lamarcardinals.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110207aaa.html

[Guest abovetherim]

Projected starting line-ups

Lamar University

[b]1. Kenny Dawkins  5-9 G Holly Springs, MS

2. Darren Hopkins  6-2 G Baltimore, MD

3. Justin Nabors 6-6 F Holly Springs, MS

4. Lamar Sanders 6-6 F Hickory Flat, MS

5. Jay Brown 6-7 F Griffin, GA

Incarnate Word

1. Isaiah Bryant  6-8 F Riverside, CA

2. Cameron Teague 6-7 F Corpus Christi, TX

3. Christian Weddborn 6-8 C La Ceiba, Honduras

4. Chris Patterson 6-4 G Baytown, TX

5. Pierce Caldwell 6-3 G San Antonio, TX

[Guest coachacola]

I'll start the predictions:  Lamar by 25 points.

[weslinder]

I'll keep them going:

Free chicken.