Seahawks play Saturday at Lon Morris College

[LamarStatesports]

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team will try to break a three-game losing streak Saturday, when they travel to Jacksonville for a 4 p.m. game against Region XIV rival Lon Morris College.

Lamar State dropped to 15-8 overall and 5-7 in conference play Wednesday, when they lost 80-58 at Paris Junior College, the current Region XIV leader and the No. 22 junior college team in the nation.

Paris mounted an 18-4 run late in the first half and led 45-25 at halftime. The Seahawks opened the second half with an 8-2 run. But the Dragons came right back with an 8-0 run, and Lamar State never got back in the game.

The Seahawks had another dismal night at the free-throw line, hitting just 11 of 20 for 55 percent.

Lon Morris (12-11, 4-8) is coming off five straight conference losses capped by an 80-73 defeat Wednesday at No. 24 Navarro College.

Lamar State head coach Matt Cross said the Lon Morris game is a pivotal contest for the Seahawks’ season.

“Although Lon Morris has been struggling, they are one of the most talented teams in the conference and they were picked to be the regular season champion,” Cross said. “So, Saturday’s game is not a game to be taken lightly. We are 5-7 in conference play, as are three other teams. A win would be very important to give us some separation as we go into the final games of the season.”

Lamar State returns home Thursday, Feb. 11, for a Mardi Gras kick-off game against San Jacinto College, which currently is No. 12 in the nation.

Seahawk Notes

* Sophomore forward Ahyaro Phillips, who sat out the Trinity Valley game with an injury, led the Seahawks against Paris with 17 points and 19 rebounds.

* After 21 games, four Seahawks are averaging in double figures – sophomore guard Kavon Rose (15.2 points per game), Keenan Coleman (12.0), Von Jones (10.9) and Ahyaro Phillips (10.7).

* The closing games of the season are very important to Lamar State, which currently is tied for third place in the South Zone of Region XIV with Blinn College, Jacksonville College and Lee College. The Seahawks won their first games with Jacksonville and Lee, but lost to Blinn in overtime.