Unbeaten Lamar State plays final conference tune-up game Saturday

[LamarStatesports]

The unbeaten Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team will prepare for next week’s start of Region XIV competition with a 1 p.m. home non-conference game Saturday against Delgado Community College.

The Seahawks moved to 5-0 Monday night in the Parker Center with a 108-70 victory over the Houston Blaze.

Lamar State head coach Matt Cross said he was pleased with his team’s defensive work.

“Defense is our biggest concern right now. We have been working on improving it each game,” Cross said. “Our goal is to reach the point where we are as good defensively as we have been offensively so far this year.”

Five Seahawks are averaging over 10 points-per-game – sophomore guard Keenen Coleman (24 ppg), freshman forward David Laury (19), sophomore forward Roman Vaughn (12.8), freshman guard Markens Charles (12.4) and sophomore guard Vonn Jones (10.4).

Laury also is the leading rebounder with 13.33 per game and has three double-doubles.

Sophomore center Gordon Ball is averaging 9.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and has two double-doubles.

Sophomore guard Dion Waiters, who led Region XIV in steals in 2010 while playing only three months of the season, currently is No. 3 in the nation in steals.

Cross expects a tough game Saturday against Delgado, which is a member of the Division I Mississippi-Louisiana Conference.

“We are excited about our Homecoming match-up with Delgado,” Cross said. “They are a solid team and will provide a good test for us as we prepare to start conference action next week.”

Cross also hopes to have all of his team healthy by next week.

“Two of our freshmen are playing hurt,” Cross said. “David Laury is one of our leading scorers, despite recurring foot problems. Dane Ka has a sprained wrist that isn’t fully healed, which affects his ability to score.”

Delgado currently is 3-2 after losing 102-95 Monday night at Hinds Community College in Utica, MS.

The Dolphins won the 2010 Miss-Lou championship and have another potent offense team this fall. Five players hit for double figures against Hinds.

Sophomore guard Darrell Williams, the 2010 Louisiana Junior College Player of the Year, averaged 17.2 points and 4.3 assists last season.

Lamar State begins its Region XIV schedule at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, at home against Lon Morris College, which was ranked just outside the Top 25 this week in the NJCAA’s first regular season poll.