Lamar Puts 2 Game Winning Streak on the Line at No. 25 Ranked BYU

[Guest mffl]

PROVO, Utah - Lamar University puts its two-game winning streak on the line Wednesday when the Cardinals take on No. 25-ranked Brigham Young University in non-conference men's basketball action at the Marriott Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. (CST).

Lamar, who is 3-5 on the season, is coming off a 117-67 rout of Louisiana College on Saturday and has won two straight games. BYU, who is ranked No. 25 in both the AP poll and the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll, is 7-2 overall. The Cougars are coming off a 68-61 loss to then No. 9-ranked Michigan State in Salt Lake City last Saturday.

The will be the third meeting between Lamar and BYU and the series is tied at 1-1. The Cardinals won a thrilling 86-77 overtime decision last season on Dec. 13, 2006 at the Montagne Center. The Cougars on won the first meeting, 97-74, on Nov. 30, 2005 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

This marks the third straight year in which Lamar has played a team ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. The Cardinals played two ranked teams last season, at Texas A&M (12th) and at Memphis (22nd), and played at Memphis (9th) during the 2005-06 season.

Junior Kenny Dawkins, who has scored in double-figures in each of the last six games and has led the team in scoring in five of the last six games, leads the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game, which ranks third in the SLC. He also leads the team in assists with 31, which ranks sixth in the SLC (3.88 apg).

A 5-9 guard from Holly Springs, Miss., Dawkins is shooting 47.7 percent from the field (18th in SLC), 43.2 percent from three-point range (3rd) and 90.3 percent from the free throw line (3rd).

Junior Justin Nabors is second on the team in scoring at 10.9 ppg and leads the team in rebounding at 7.1 rpg, which ranks seventh in the SLC. He is shooting 59 percent from the field (4th in SLC). Senior Lamar Sanders is the only other Cardinal averaging double-figures at 10.0 ppg. He is second on the team in rebounding at 7.0 rpg (8th) and is shooting 59.3 percent from the field (3rd).

Lamar is averaging 80.1 ppg and is shooting 45.7 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from three-point range and 70.9 percent from the free throw line. The Cardinals have a plus-7.8 scoring margin and a plus-2.5 rebound margin.

Trent Plaisted, who scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Saturday's loss to Michigan State, leads BYU in scoring at 17.8 ppg and in rebounding at 9.2 rpg. He is shooting 58.4 percent from the field and leads the team with nine blocked shots.

Jonathan Tavernari is second on the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg and leads the team with 13 steals. He leads the team with 28 made three-pointers and is shooting 40.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Lee Cummard averages 13.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg, and is shooting 58.4 percent from the field. Sam Burgess is averaging 10.3 ppg and is shooting 51.4 percent (18-of-35) from 3-point range. Ben Murdock leads the team with 45 assists (5.0 apg).

BYU is averaging 79.2 ppg and is shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three-point range and 71.7 percent from the free throw line. The Cougars have a plus-16.4 scoring margin and a plus-7.2 rebound margin.

[KFDM COOP]

Hope they can make it 3!

[Guest abovetherim]

Thanks for posting this article mffl. You are the coolest teenager I know and yes that includes my three.  8)