HOUSTON (AP) Chris Thomas scored 23 points and finished with 10 rebounds to lead Texas Southern in a 71-56 victory over Lamar on Friday.
Thomas shot 9 of 17 from the field and had four steals. Malcolm Riley added 15 points for the Tigers (1-5), and shot 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Lamar's LeMon Gregory hit a jumper with 7:58 left to bring the Cardinals within five, 52-47. Texas Southern scored the next seven points to stay ahead. The Tigers outscored Lamar 42-34 in the paint.
Tyran de Lattibeaudiere led Lamar with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Quan Jones chipped in 10 as the Cardinals went 22 of 48 (45.8 percent) from the floor, but just 3 of 13 from behind the arc.
The Cardinals (2-4) head to No. 13 Iowa State on Tuesday, and Texas Southern travels to Baylor on Monday.
