ADAMS — Since they have an undersized lineup to begin with, the Southland boys basketball team knew they might be in trouble when their play-making center Mike Goergen was hit with foul trouble in the second half against Lewiston/Altura.

But senior guard Alan May picked up the slack to pour in 19 points and grab 18 rebounds to lead the Rebels to a 75-69 win over the Cardinals Monday.

Goergen finished with 18 points and five blocked shots, but he only scored four in the second half as he fouled with 6:46 left in the game.

May was quick to seize the lead role as he put up 14 of his points and grabbed 15 of his rebounds in the second frame.

“Mike’s a great scorer and usually I’m looking to get him the ball,” said May, who also had two steals and two assists. “With him out of the game in foul trouble, I just started working hard.”

Thalberg said that May’s outpour couldn’t have come at a better time for his team.

“We needed (Alan) tonight and he took the challenge and he did great,” Thalberg said. “He’s a competitor and he hates losing. Tonight, when we needed him most he was our superman.”

Even superman needs a sidekick and for the Rebels (7-5 overall, 4-4 Three Rivers), sophomore Decker Bendtsen filled that role nicely. Bendtsen led Southland with 20 points as he knocked down an array of jumpers and he also hit his last three free throws to ice the game.

“I was hitting some of my jump shots last game so I was feeling more confident with them,” Bendtsen said. “They were leaving me open, so I took them.”

Southland led 68-60 with 2:53 remaining in the game but the Cardinals pulled within 72-69 with 22 seconds left after Nate Reps scored a lay-up off a Southland turnover.

May hit a free throw on the next possession and the Rebel defense clamped down for the last 20 seconds.

The Rebels missed 16 free throws in the second half and they finished with 23 turnovers.

“We have to work on free throws in practice because that was ugly,” Bendtsen said. “We let them back in the game and it almost ended up bad, but we pulled it out.”

Thalberg said he was pleased with his squad for stretches, but they have to be more consistent.

“The kids worked hard, but at times we stood around on offense and when we stand around we struggle,” he said. “When we don’t stand around, we’re a pretty good basketball team.”

Nick Schmitz finished with eight points and seven assists for Southland.

Southland scoring: Decker Bendtsen, 20; Alan May, 19; Mike Goergen, 18; Nick Schmitz, 8; Sam Noterman, 6; Sam Klaehn, 2; Chris Wolff, 2; free throws: 43 percent (15-for-35); rebounds: 45 (May, 18); turnovers: 23

L/A scoring: Matt Burfeind, 17; Josh Ehlenfeldt, 15; Jordan Schultz, 9; Jay Peoples, 8; Jerrod Fort, 7; Nate Reps, 6; Cole Weaver, 2; free throws: 62 percent (13-for-21); rebounds: 30 (Ehlenfeldt, 7); turnovers: 15