LAKE CHARLES, La. - Junior Alexis Marmolejos scored 18 points and classmate Andrew Holifield added 15 but it wasn't enough to overcome slow second half for Lamar University as the Cardinals dropped a 63-54 decision to McNeese Wednesday afternoon in the 2025 Southland Conference Championship game at the Legacy Center.
The Cardinals had three players finish the day in double figures but it wasn't enough to overcome a second half that saw LU shoot less than 22 percent from the field and only 2-of-11 (.182) from long range. The Cardinals ended the day 20-of-65 (.308) with five three-pointers.
McNeese also struggled in the second half but managed to record key baskets down the stretch to extend the lead. The Cowboys finished the day 20-of-48 (.417) but only three of those makes came from long range (3-of-17/.176).
The Cardinals dominated the glass, 49-32, including a 21-5 edge on the offensive glass. Every Cardinal who checked in the game pulled down at least two rebounds - except for one - and three players had at least eight (Holifield and Maromolejos each had nine).
McNeese built a six-point lead by the under eight media of the opening half, 24-18, following a hot start. The Cowboys knocked down nine of their first 17 attempts (.529) but only one of their makes was a three during that stretch.
LU pulled within two after a Hamilton layup and a Holifield jumper from the free throw line but McNeese responded with a 7-0 run to take a nine-point lead with less two remaining in the first. Lamar got a step back three from Holifield followed by two Marmolejos three-pointers to pull within four points, 31-27, with 53 seconds left until the intermission.
On their last possession of the half and down by six, the Cardinals got another three-pointer from Marmolejos to pull the Cardinals within a possession, 33-30. Lamar finished the opening half hitting 12-of-28 (. 429) attempts, including three triples. McNeese was 14-of-29 (.483) in the opening 20 minutes. The Cardinals also held an 18-15 margin on the glass in the first half.
Both teams started a combined 0-10 to open the second half but McNeese was the first to connect to push the advantage to eight points before a Marmolejos basket at the 16:12 mark ended LU's slump. The slow start set the trend for a second half that would see neither team get hot as the defenses ruled the half.
Lamar opened second half just 1-for-10 but broke the under 16 media timeout and got a step-back three from Holifield to pull within a possession, 38-35. LU moved to within a point before the Cowboys went on a 5-0 run.
With less than six to play the lead moved to eight points following two McNeese free throws but Lamar responded with two Holifield free throws followed by a third from Cody Pennebaker to trim the deficit down to six, 51-46, with 4:33 remaining. Unfortunately, McNeese pushed the lead down to 12 in the final two minutes and the Cardinals couldn't recover.
Following the game, both Marmolejos and Hamilton were named to the 2025 Southland All-Tournament Team.