Undefeated Lamar State Seahawks open conference play Saturday

[LamarStatesports]

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team has a 7-0 record going into their first Region XIV conference game Saturday, when they host the 2009 regular season champion, Lon Morris College, at 4 p.m. in the Carl Parker Center.

The Seahawks topped Baton Rouge Community College, 74-62, on the road Saturday for their seventh-straight win.

This season is a mirror opposite of Lamar State’s first campaign six years ago, when the Seahawks took the court just five months after the program was announced and absorbed 15 losses in six weeks from Region XIV teams.

Each succeeding year brought improved results, but the Seahawks still received little respect.

That hasn’t changed this year. In spite of a perfect 7-0 start, Lamar State didn’t receive any votes in the NJCAA’s first regular season poll released Tuesday.

The Seahawks can change pollsters’ perception in the next two games, as they face two nationally-ranked teams – Lon Morris on Saturday and perennial powerhouse San Jacinto College, also just outside the Top 20, next Tuesday.

Lon Morris (5-2) was No. 24 in the pre-season poll, but dropped just beyond the Top 20 in this week’s rankings after losing by two points to South Plains College.

The Bearcats, who are picked to win the Region XIV title, are coming off an 85-81 Wednesday home loss to Weatherford College, which avenged its season-opening loss to Lon Morris.

Lamar State is averaging 103 points per game. Six players are in double figures, led by freshman forward Leviante Davis (21.7 ppg), who is 14th in the nation in scoring.

Sophomore guard Kavon Rose, who sat out the Baton Rouge game with an ankle injury, is averaging 17.7 ppg, followed by freshman guard Keenan Doyle (15.1), sophomore forward Ahyaro Phillips (10.6), freshman guard Von Jones (10) and freshman forward Roman Vaughn (10)

Phillips leads the nation in rebounding and is third in blocked shots.

Lamar State head coach Matt Cross expects a tough matchup against Lon Morris.

“The defending conference champs, led by their veteran coach Dale Dotson, will be a tough test for our young team. This game will give us a measuring stick to see exactly where we are in our mission to win a championship for Lamar State College-Port Arthur,” Cross said. “There will be a lot of hype about this game, but at this point in the year, this basketball game is not going to make or break our season. It would be gratifying to win for all our students, faculty, staff and alumni who will be attending Saturday’s Homecoming game.”

Cross said injured guard Kavon Rose may be able to play some minutes against Lon Morris.

“Kavon probably won’t be back to 100 percent, but our team is hopeful he will be able to play and give us as much as he can on his tweaked ankle.”