HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — Southeastern Louisiana used a dominant first half to build a lead and held off a Lamar rally for a 60-52 men’s basketball victory on Monday night at University Center. The Lions led 36-24 at halftime before the Cardinals chipped away in the second half. Lamar’s Andrew Holifield scored a game-high 17 points, and KingNjhsanni Wilhite added 10. Jeremy Elyzee led Southeastern Louisiana with nine points and four assists. The win improved Southeastern Louisiana to 5-10 overall. Lamar fell to 7-8. An announced crowd of 388 attended the Southland Conference game.

HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half performance by Southeastern Louisiana proved too much for Lamar to overcome as the Lions held off a late Cardinals rally for a 60-52 victory in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Monday night at University Center. The Lions, improving to 5-10 overall, seized control early with a 36-point first half, building a lead that stretched to 15 points. Lamar, which fell to 7-8, mounted a determined second-half comeback, cutting the deficit to as few as four points, but could never fully close the gap in a game where offensive execution was at a premium for both teams. The most critical phase of the contest was unquestionably the opening 20 minutes. Southeastern Louisiana established its tempo and defensive intensity from the outset, forcing Lamar into difficult shots and capitalizing on transition opportunities. The Lions’ 36-24 halftime advantage was built on a balanced attack and key contributions from their bench. Forward Garrett Shoemaker, a hometown product from Livingston, Louisiana, provided a significant spark off the pine, hitting two crucial three-pointers during a first-half stretch that expanded the Lions’ lead. His seven points in just nine minutes were pivotal in establishing the early cushion. Lamar’s offense, which has shown potency in recent wins, was stifled for long stretches. The Cardinals shot poorly from the field and struggled to find a consistent rhythm against Southeastern Louisiana’s active defense. The lone bright spot for the visitors was forward Andrew Holifield. The 6-foot-10 junior from Beaumont, Texas, delivered a game-high 17 points, including a trio of three-pointers, and added a block and a steal in 29 minutes of work. His efforts kept Lamar within striking distance. The second half saw a role reversal, with Lamar’s defense tightening to hold the Lions to just 24 points. The Cardinals, led by guard KingNjhsanni Wilhite’s 10 points, slowly chipped away at the lead. A driving layup by Wilhite with just over seven minutes remaining brought Lamar within 48-44, marking the closest they had been since the game’s opening minutes and forcing a Southeastern Louisiana timeout. However, the Lions responded with the composure they had lacked in recent close losses. Following the timeout, guard Jeremy Elyzee of Hialeah, Florida, answered with a layup to halt the Lamar run. Elyzee finished with nine points, four assists, and two blocks, providing steady leadership. When Lamar threatened again, cutting the lead to 56-52 on an Eian Lowe jumper with 25 seconds left, the Lions closed the game at the free-throw line. Jalen Forrest, who contributed nine points off the bench, sank two clutch free throws with 20 seconds remaining to effectively seal the outcome. For Southeastern Louisiana, the win was a testament to depth and defensive resolve. Ubong Abasi Etim added eight points, while Kyle Edison and Ethan Pickett each chipped in seven. Pickett also dished out five assists. The Lions’ bench outscored Lamar’s reserves 31-15, a decisive factor in the contest. Lamar, which entered the game as a slight pregame favorite according to betting markets, was led by Holifield and Wilhite. Lowe added seven points for the Cardinals, who were coming off a Southland road loss to McNeese State on Friday. The loss halted a modest two-game conference winning streak they had built just before the new year. The game’s total points, 112, fell well under the pregame over/under line of 136, underscoring the defensive struggle. A crowd of 388 at the University Center watched as Southeastern Louisiana evened its home conference record. The Lions will look to build on this momentum as they head to Lake Charles for a matchup with McNeese State on Saturday. Lamar returns home to the Montagne Center to host Incarnate Word on Saturday, seeking to rebound and get back to the .500 mark in league play. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch in Beaumont on Monday, Feb. 2.

HAMMOND, La. (Interstat) — A pair of Southland Conference men’s basketball teams looking to steady their seasons will meet Monday when the Lamar Cardinals visit the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at the University Center. Lamar (7-7) enters at .500 overall but is coming off an 82-70 road loss at McNeese State on Friday. The Cardinals had won their two prior conference games, at Texas A&M-Commerce (69-62) and at Northwestern State (76-61). Southeastern Louisiana (4-10) has dropped three straight, most recently a 73-63 home loss to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday. The Lions’ last win was a 74-71 overtime victory at Houston Christian on Dec. 13. A key matchup will feature Lamar’s Andrew Holifield against Southeastern Louisiana’s Ethan Pickett. Holifield, a consistent scoring threat, is averaging 14.1 points per game. He is coming off a 21-point performance in 26 minutes against McNeese State and scored 24 points in a loss to Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Dec. 16. For the Lions, Pickett provides a presence in the paint. He nearly posted a double-double in the loss at Incarnate Word on Dec. 30, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes. The Cardinals have shown a balanced attack. In the loss to McNeese State, Rob Lee added 15 points and three assists, while Braden East contributed 12 points off the bench. Lamar will look to improve its offensive consistency after shooting 41.5% from the field in that defeat. Southeastern Louisiana has struggled to find a rhythm, with its four wins coming against Houston Christian, Navy, Gardner-Webb and non-Division I William Carey. The Lions will need to contain Holifield and generate more offense after being held under 70 points in five of their last six games. This contest opens a critical January stretch for both teams as they navigate the Southland schedule. Following this game, Lamar will host Incarnate Word on Jan. 10, while Southeastern Louisiana travels to face McNeese State on the same date. Tipoff is set for Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Hammond.