Lamar Routs LeTourneau, 103-64, in Season Opener

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Senior Currye Todd led six players in double-figures with 17 points.

Nov. 13, 2007

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Senior Currye Todd led six players in double-figures with 17 points as Lamar University opened the 2007-08 season with a 103-64 rout of LeTourneau University in non-conference men's basketball action Tuesday night at the Montagne Center.

Lamar (1-0) improved its all-time record to 41-16 in season openers, including a 29-3 mark at home. LeTourneau dropped to 0-1 on the season. The Cardinals hit the road for a 7 p.m. game Friday at Mississippi. The all-time series is tied at 1-1 between Lamar and Ole Miss with each team winning at home.

Senior Darren Hopkins' three-pointer at 19:48 to open the game gave Lamar a quick 3-0 lead and the Cardinals would never trail in the contest. Two more Hopkins three-pointers and a layup by Matthew Barrow at 17:29 gave the Cardinals a 13-2 lead.

A conventional three point play by Lawrence Nwevo ignited a 13-0 run that was capped by a Nwevo layup at 11:58 that gave Lamar a 22-point lead at 26-4. The Cardinals kept pouring it on and led 38-10 with 5:09 remaining in the opening stanza on a Lamar Sanders layup. A Hopkins free throw at 2:36 gave the Cardinals their biggest lead of the half at 30 points, 43-13.

Consecutive three-pointers by J.J. Rockmore and Jayme Bradley pulled the YellowJackets within 23, 59-36, with 15:25 left in the game, but that's as close as LeTourneau would get. Lamar built its lead to a game-high 43 points on two occasions - a Nwevo layup at 4:25 that made the score 92-49 and a Todd 3-pointer at 3:41 (96-43).

About the only drama left was to see whether the Lamar fans would go home with a free chicken coupon to Dairy Queen, which occurs only when the Cardinals score 100 points in a game. Todd had the answer when his 3-pointer at 1:32 gave Lamar its 101st point.   

Todd was 6 of 13 from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range in scoring his 17 points. Junior Justin Nabors recorded a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Hopkins also added 14 points. Barrow and Jay Brown each chipped in 12. Sanders added 10 points, eight rebounds and a career-high five steals.

Lamar shot 48.1 percent (37-of-77) from the field, 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from 3-point range and 86.4 percent (19-of-22) from the free throw line. The Cardinals outrebounded the YellowJackets 58 to 29, which led to a 23-11 advantage in second chance points. LU also outscored LeTourneau 44-22 in points in the paint.

Dewones Smith and Rockmore each scored 11 points to lead LeTourneau. Marcel Louimeus added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Smith dished out a team-high five assists.

LeTourneau shot 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the field, 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from 3-point range and 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the free throw line. Both the YellowJackets and Cardinals committed 25 turnovers.

http://lamarcardinals.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111307aab.html

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