Lamar Cardinals solidified their Southland Conference momentum with a commanding 65-55 win over East Texas A&M on Saturday. Alexis Marmolejos led the charge with 13 points, including two three-pointers, while Andrew Holifield and Adam Hamilton combined for 18 points and nine rebounds. Lamar’s balanced offense and tenacious defense handed East Texas A&M their 14th conference loss this season.
Marmolejos shot an efficient 5 for 9 from the field, showcasing his versatility as a scoring threat. Holifield added 10 points and nine rebounds, dominating the boards to limit second-chance opportunities for the Lions. Hamilton’s eight points off the bench highlighted Lamar’s depth, a critical factor as they push for a higher seed in the Southland Conference tournament.
East Texas A&M, struggling at 3 wins and 23 losses overall, relied on TJ Thomas (11 points) and Evan Phelps (10 points). Despite their defensive efforts—four steals from Thomas and three from Phelps—the Lions couldn’t overcome Lamar’s offensive efficiency. Chris Adlam contributed seven points, but the team shot just 38% from the floor.
This win keeps us in the hunt for the conference title, said Lamar’s head coach in a post-game interview. Our defense set the tone early, and we executed when it mattered.
Key stats from the game:
- Lamar’s bench outscored East Texas A&M’s 18-7.
- The Cardinals forced 12 turnovers, converting them into 15 points.
- Both teams play again Monday, with Lamar facing Northwestern State and East Texas A&M hosting Stephen F. Austin.
With an 11-4 conference record, Lamar remains in contention for a top-three seed, while East Texas A&M looks to regroup in their final games. Monday’s matchups will test momentum shifts in the Southland Conference as the regular season winds down.