Lamar 122, Centenary (La.) 57

Lamar delivered one of the most emphatic performances of the early NCAA basketball season on Nov. 12, 2026, overwhelming Centenary (La.) 122-57 in Beaumont, Texas. The Cardinals scored from the opening tip, turned defense into transition offense, and never allowed Centenary to settle into the game. The 65-point margin told the story of a contest that was decided long before the final buzzer.

Lamar blitzes out of the gate

The Cardinals set the tone with a 14-2 opening run and led 61-24 at halftime. Lamar’s guards pressured the ball well beyond the three-point line, forcing Centenary into hurried passes and contested shots. When the Gentlemen did break the pressure, the Cardinals rotated quickly and cleaned up the defensive glass. By the break, Lamar had already built a lead large enough to empty the bench in the second half.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Lamar kept attacking the rim, shared the ball in transition, and maintained its defensive intensity even with reserves on the floor. Centenary found a few more scoring chances after halftime, but the Cardinals answered nearly every mini-run with a quick burst of their own.

Balanced scoring powers a 122-point night

Lamar’s offensive balance was just as impressive as the margin. Five players finished in double figures, and the bench added a significant spark. The Cardinals shot better than 55% from the field and knocked down 12 three-pointers, but the most damaging work came around the basket, where Lamar repeatedly finished through contact and earned second-chance opportunities.

• RJ Coleman: 22 points, 7 assists, 4 steals
• Trevon Banks: 18 points, 11 rebounds
• Elijah Grant: 16 points, 5 rebounds
• Lamar bench: 48 points

Coleman controlled the tempo and repeatedly found shooters in rhythm, while Banks gave Lamar a physical presence inside. The Cardinals assisted on 24 of their 44 made field goals, a sign of how often the offense created the extra pass.

Defense fuels the transition game

The most lopsided stat of the night was turnovers. Centenary committed 22 giveaways, and Lamar turned those mistakes into 28 points. The Cardinals also held a decisive edge in fast-break scoring, often turning a deflection into a layup within seconds. Centenary shot just 31% from the floor and never found a consistent answer against Lamar’s length on the wing.

Lamar’s defensive activity also created foul trouble for Centenary’s frontcourt, forcing the Gentlemen to rely on perimeter shots that rarely fell. The Cardinals blocked six shots and altered several others, making the paint a difficult place to operate all evening.

Centenary keeps competing

Centenary’s best moments came in the second half, when guards Cade Mercer and Jordan Price combined for 26 points. Mercer attacked the basket with confidence and hit a pair of tough pull-up jumpers, while Price worked the offensive glass for a few second-chance buckets. The Gentlemen never threatened the result, but they continued to play with energy late, which should give the staff something positive to build on.

What the result means

For Lamar, the win is a confidence boost and a clear demonstration of the identity the Cardinals want to establish: pressure defense, deep rotation, and fast-paced offense. A 122-point performance will draw attention, but the more important takeaway was the consistency on the defensive end. Lamar moves into the next stretch of its non-conference schedule with momentum and a bench that has proven it can hold a lead.

For Centenary, the game was a difficult lesson against a faster, deeper opponent. The Gentlemen will need cleaner ball-handling and better shot selection moving forward, but the effort in the second half offered a small silver lining on a long night in Beaumont.