Lamar upends Roadrunners, 81-56, on Saturday night

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BEAUMONT — Senior Keith Spencer registered his third double-double of the season and junior Joey Shank poured in a game-high 17 points, but Currye Todd led four players in double figures with 16, as Lamar downed UTSA, 81-56, in the Southland Conference opener for both teams Saturday night at the Montagne Center.

Spencer pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds and scored 10 points for his ninth double-double in a Roadrunner uniform. Shank drained five 3-pointers, his eighth game with at least three treys, while junior Travis Gabbidon, who left the game early in the second half with an injury, added 10 points, as UTSA fell to 6-8 overall. The Roadrunners played without point guards Devin Gibson, Omar Johnson and Orrin Greer and forward Andrew Francis, who were out due to injury.

Currye nailed four of Lamar’s 10 3-pointers on the evening as the Cardinals shot 56.9 percent from the floor as a team in improving to 7-7 and 1-0. Lamar Sanders posted 15 points and eight boards, while Darren Hopkins (15) and Matthew Barrow (14) also reached double digits.

UTSA and Lamar traded leads seven times in the first half. Lamar jumped out to an early five-point advantage, but UTSA took its first lead, 14-11, on a Shank trey at the 10:52 mark. The Roadrunners held a 30-29 lead with just under two minutes showing on the clock, but Lamar closed the half on a 6-2 run.

The Roadrunners blitzed out of the locker room with a 5-0 run through the first 1:03 of the second half to take a 36-35 lead. Lamar responded with 10 unanswered and eventually went on a 19-2 run over a seven minute span to break the game open.

The lead would grow to as many 28 in the final minutes as the Cardinals won for the sixth consecutive time in the series.

UTSA shot 40.5 percent for the game, but made just eight second-half field goals compared to 19 made by Lamar. The Roadrunners outrebounded the Cardinals, 30-26.

The Roadrunners return home to host Central Arkansas on Thursday, Jan. 17. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center and the game will be televised on FOX Sports Southwest.

   

 

   

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