NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant first-half surge and a relentless individual performance, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks used a balanced offensive attack and disruptive defense to defeat the Lamar Cardinals 84-74 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday night at William R. Johnson Coliseum.

The most important part of the game was the first half, where Stephen F. Austin established a commanding lead that Lamar spent the rest of the evening trying, and failing, to overcome. The Lumberjacks, improving to 21-3, built a 12-point halftime cushion by shooting efficiently and capitalizing on Lamar’s mistakes, a formula that ultimately secured the victory despite a spectacular scoring effort from Lamar’s Braden East.

Stephen F. Austin opened the game on a 9-2 run, highlighted by an early Kam Burton jumper and a three-pointer from the same player. Lamar, which fell to 12-12, responded behind East, the 6-foot-9 forward from Houston. East scored nine of Lamar’s first 11 points, including a three-point play off an offensive rebound, to keep the Cardinals close. The teams traded baskets for several minutes, with Lamar tying the game at 16 on an Errol White jumper with just over 14 minutes left in the half.

From that point, the Lumberjacks seized control with a decisive 19-4 run over the next six and a half minutes. The surge was fueled by defensive pressure and sharpshooting. Lateef Patrick Jr. and Burton connected from beyond the arc, while Keon Thompson orchestrated the offense and found teammates for easy scores. The run was punctuated by a Patrick block on one end leading to a Thompson-assisted Patrick three-pointer on the other, pushing the lead to 35-20. Lamar’s offense grew stagnant, hampered by turnovers that Stephen F. Austin converted into 18 points for the game.

East single-handedly tried to keep Lamar afloat, scoring on a variety of moves in the paint. He finished the half with 19 points, but the rest of the Cardinals combined for only 15. Stephen F. Austin, meanwhile, showcased its depth. Patrick scored 13 first-half points, Burton added 11, and Thompson dished out five assists as the Lumberjacks took a 46-34 lead into the break.

The second half saw Lamar make several pushes to cut into the deficit. Each time, Stephen F. Austin had an answer. When East scored inside to pull Lamar within 10 early in the period, Patrick immediately responded with a three-pointer. The Cardinals got as close as nine points on multiple occasions, the last at 70-61 following an Eian Lowe three-pointer with just over nine minutes remaining.

The Lumberjacks’ backcourt duo of Thompson and Patrick consistently snuffed out any momentum. Thompson, who finished with 19 points and eight assists, repeatedly drew fouls and hit clutch free throws, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line. Patrick led all scorers with 20 points, including two critical three-pointers in the final four minutes whenever Lamar threatened. His three with 3:53 to play pushed the lead back to 75-66 after Lamar had closed within six.

East was magnificent in defeat, scoring a game-high 33 points on 14-of-24 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds for Lamar. Lowe added nine points and five assists off the bench. But the Cardinals were hampered by ball security issues, committing 10 turnovers leading to those 18 Stephen F. Austin points, and were out-assisted 8-4. The Lumberjacks also won at the free-throw line, making 18 of 22 attempts compared to Lamar’s 10 of 12.

Beyond the star guards, Stephen F. Austin received key contributions from Chrishawn Christmas with 10 points and three assists, and Jerald Colonel, who protected the rim with three blocks. The Lumberjacks shot 53.7% from the field and 50% from three-point range, while holding Lamar to 46.8% shooting.

The win completed a regular-season sweep for Stephen F. Austin, which also defeated Lamar 88-81 on Jan. 24. The Lumberjacks have now won eight of their last nine games. Lamar has lost two of its last three.

An announced crowd of 3,872 watched the contest. Stephen F. Austin will next host Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday. Lamar returns home to face Northwestern State, also on Monday.