Beaumont, Texas – Despite a strong game from sophomore guard Tyler Singleton and a double-double from junior center Miles Banks, the UIW men's basketball team remained winless on the road after dropping an 87-72 contest to host Lamar Wednesday from the Montagne Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The teams exchanged baskets in the early goings until Joey Frenchwood scored five unanswered for Lamar (11-6, 3-1 SLC) to give the host Cardinals a five-point lead, 9-4, two minutes into the contest. A Colton Weisbrod unconventional three-point play culminated an 8-0 Lamar run.

UIW (6-11, 1-4 SLC) fought back and a Singleton three-pointer cut the Lamar lead to just one, 14-13, with 14:17 left in the first half, but Lamar quickly answered with nine straight points in a span of just over a minute for a 23-13 LU advantage.

UIW battled back, but Dorian Chatman's layup gave Lamar a 10-point advantage. The visiting Cardinals responded well after the media timeout, as Simi Socks nailed a triple to cut the Lamar deficit to seven. UIW came within five, 30-25, but Frenchwood hit a long ball to put Lamar back up by eight with four minutes left in the first half, the beginning of a half-closing 17-10 run to give Lamar a 47-35 advantage at the break.

Nick Garth's triple gave Lamar its largest lead of the game, 62-45, with 14:17 left in regulation, but UIW kept chipping away at the deficit. A pair of Singleton free throws culminated a 16-5 UIW stretch that cut the Lamar lead to 67-61 with 7:42 to go.

After the teams exchanged free throws and UIW found itself trailing by six again, Lamar quickly answered with an and-one play by Zjori Bosha and Lamar never looked back as the host Cardinals went 9-for-9 from the charity stripe.

LEADERS

Singleton led five UIW Cardinals in double figures, as he finished with 17 points, two shy of his career mark he set against Howard Payne earlier this season. He went 6-for-16 from the floor, 1-for-3 from beyond the arc, and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. His six rebounds were one shy of his personal mark. Banks registered his first double-double as he scored a career-high 10 points and his 12 rebounds were one shy of his career high. Shawn Johnson (16), Simi Socks (14), and Jalin Hart (10) also scored in double figures. As a team, the Cardinals shot 42 percent from the floor.

Weisbrod (26) and Frenchwood (21) combined to score 47 points for Lamar, while Weisbrod earned the double-double with 13 rebounds. Garth added 16 points for the Cardinals. As a team, Lamar shot 48 percent from the floor.

UP NEXT

UIW opens a three-game home stand Saturday at 3 p.m. against HBU.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals resume their home stand against three-time defending Southland Conference Tournament champion, Stephen F. Austin, next Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.