LSC-PA beats No. 8 nationally-ranked Howard College by 34

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The Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks fell behind early but charged back with a vengeance to beat No. 8 nationally-ranked Howard College by 34 points, 95-61, at the Midland Classic on Friday afternoon.

The Seahawks, who are ranked No. 13 in the nation and now undefeated in four games, fell behind early, trailing by as many as seven as Howard College relied on an early offensive push by Calvin Godfrey. He finished with a team-best 15 points.

With their biggest deficit 11-4 at the 16:23 mark of the first half, the Seahawks came alive with a Lakeem Duncan 3-pointer. Over the next two minutes, LSC-PA outscored the Hawks 9-2 to tie the game at 13-13.

During the next 1:30, the Seahawks were relentless, outscoring Howard College 10-0, extending their lead to 15 points at 47-32 by the end of the first half behind the shooting of Shondel Stewart and Elijah Pittman.

Pittman opened the second half with more of the same, scoring seven of the Seahawks' first eight points, leading LSC-PA to a 19-point lead with just over a minute gone in the half.

Midway through the second half, the Seahawks led by 23 as the fast-paced full-court defense took its toll on Howard College. All told, the Seahawks picked up 18 steals in the game, converting those and other turnovers into 22 points.

Showing their true depth, the Seahawks picked up 62 points off the bench, led by Pittman who scored a game-high 28 points with four rebounds. Stewart picked up a double-double for the Seahawks with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Other Seahawks in double-figures were Brandon Peters with 14 and Lakeem Duncan with 12, all coming from beyond the 3-point line.

Derrick Dawkins, who finished with seven points, and Elridge Moore, five points, each led LSC-PA with four steals.

The Seahawks are back in action today with a game against No. 18-ranked South Plains College at 4 p.m. in the second day of play at the Midland College tournament.