MBB 2026 Battle of the Border Round 1

[geezer]

Cards are in Lake Chuck to take on McNeese in the first men's basketball match up for this basketball season.  The last two years the Cards have played McNeese tough but have come up short.  It will take an excellent performance to get a win this evening, but Lamar may have enough pieces to pull it off if they come out really focused and ready to play from the opening tipoff.  The emergence of Wilhite and Lowe in the scoring area can take some of the pressure off the bigger players.  The one piece I think Lamar is still missing is the six five to six seven player that can drive to the basket and go up with the strength to score at the goal while absorbing fouls.

[geezer]

Good start for Lamar up 11-10 at the first media timeout.

[geezer]

Cards down by five at the half 39-34.  Cards were playing even with McNeese until an about six-minute period from about the eleven-minute mark to the five-minute point where they committed four turnovers.  McNeese's defense stepped their game up and field goal percentage both over the last twelve minutes of the half.

[geezer]

Second half was a battle royal, with McNeese getting an 82-70 win.  Lamar did a good job of taking care of the ball committing a total of ten turnovers for the game.  McNeese ended the game with one more total rebound, but Lamar had five more offensive rebounds.  Ultimate difference in the game was field goal shooting percentage as McNeese shot about 48% and Lamar managed only 33%.  Lamar definitely competed and if the Cards can continue to play the way they did tonight Lamar should be in real good position come the end of the season.