Seahawks close 2009 on the road in Tomball

[LamarStatesports]

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team will finish the 2009 portion of their season Saturday with a 1 p.m. non-conference game at Lone Star College-Tomball.

The Seahawks fell to 8-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play this past weekend, when they lost 101-95 in overtime Saturday at Region XIV rival Blinn College in Brenham, followed by a 91-76 non-conference loss Monday at Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

The freshman-laiden Seahawk squad began the 2009-10 season with a school-record 8-0 start, but followed that with four straight losses.

Monday’s game at Delgado saw Lamar State fall behind 17-10 early in the first half, but battle back to take a one-point (30-29) halftime advantage, thanks in large part to a strong performance on both ends of the floor by New Orleans native Ahyaro Phillips.

Phillips, playing in front of family members and friends, carried the Seahawks for the first 20 minutes with his hot shooting and strong defensive presence in the paint. He opened the night making four of his first five shot attempts, while blocking four Delgado shot attempts on the defensive end of the floor.

Phillips finished the first half with a team-high 10 points, while also collecting five rebounds.

Delgado opened the second half with a 13-2 run to take a 10-point lead. The Dolphins also hit three consecutive three-point baskets and converted two Lamar State turnovers into easy baskets to build their lead to 42-32 just three minutes into the half.

The Seahawks cut the lead to seven points on several occasions, but a late 8-0 run by Delgado capped off by back-to-back three’s at the six-minute mark sent the visitors spiraling to their fourth straight defeat.

Phillips concluded the night with a team-high 19 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks. The sophomore transfer from the University of Nevada-Reno did not disappoint his family and friends this night, or the two NCAA Division I coaches who were there to watch him play.

Four other Seahawks finished in double-digits, led by sophomore forward Kavon Rose with 15 points. Keenan Doyle added 14, Leviante Davis hit for 13 and Von Jones contributed 11.

Lamar State looks to end the four-game skid Saturday on the road at Lone Star College -Tomball in a rematch of a contest the Seahawks won in dominating fashion, 97-52, earlier this season.