Lamar Outshoots Northwestern State, 103-95; Runs Win Streak To Ten

Feb. 23, 2008

Darren Hopkins was one of three Lamar players to reach 20 points as the Cardinals defeated Northwestern State, 103-95, for their tenth-consecutive victory before a Southland Conference-high 8,338 fans at the Montagne Center Saturday.

Lamar (17-8, 11-1 Southland) shot 55 percent and made a season-high 32 free throws in snapping a two-game losing streak to the Demons in Beaumont. The Cardinals swept the season series as well.

Darren Hopkins led the Cards with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting and four 3-pointers, while dishing out five assists. Kenny Dawkins posted his seventh game of 20-plus points as he had six assists. Currye Todd finished with 20 points and made three 3-pointers in 20 minutes. It marked the 21st time in school history that three players reached 20 points in the same game and the first time since Feb. 7, 2004 - the last win over Northwestern State in Beaumont.

With the win, Lamar clinched at least a share of the SLC East Division.

Lamar led by 21 with 8:20 to play and by 17 with 4:04 left before the Demons mounted one final push. Northwestern State got the margin to 101-95 with 25 seconds on the clock before a pair of Currye Todd free throws sealed the game for Lamar.

Northwestern State (12-18, 8-5) was led by Colby Bargeman's 30 points and six 3-pointers.

The Cardinals held a 35-34 edge on the glass. The game had 58 fouls called and 79 free throws were attempted.

The crowd was the seventh-largest in school history and the most since Dec. 27, 1995, when 8,454 saw Lamar face Texas. Additionally, Lamar's win streak is now tied for the fifth-longest active stretch in the country.

Lamar will now play three of its final four games on the road, starting Wednesday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The contest tips off at 6:30 p.m. at the American Bank Center and will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.