BRIDGE CITY – The Port Neches-Groves Indians fended off the Bridge City Cardinals 54-45 in non-district action at Cardinal Gym Tuesday night.

The Indians (5-3) utilized a 18-7 spurt in the third quarter to erase a 24-21 halftime deficit to the Cardinals (5-5) to grab a eight-point lead heading to the fourth quarter as they eventually held back the Cardinals.

Drake Rojas led the Indians with a game-high 15 points, eight coming after intermission. Tracy Smith had 12 points for PN-G and Trent Lee contributed 10 and they teamed up for 15 second-half points.

It was a Rojas three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter that gave the Indians a 39-31 edge going into the final period.

Grant Boudreaux led the Cardinals with 13 points while Noah McFarland had 11 points and Kolten Weeks seven.

Both teams got off to a slow start as the Indians led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Cardinal offense caught fire in the second period as they went on to outscore the Indians 21-14. Boudreaux tallied eight points in the quarter while McFarland worked inside for five points.

The Indians, however, got on a roll in the third period as Rojas led the surge with five points while Smith and Jackson Simmons added four points apiece.

The Indians finished with a 27-21 rebounding edge. Lee had six boards to pace the Indians while Smith had five.

Weeks led the Cardinals with a game-high seven rebounds while McFarland had five.

The Indians finished with 21 turnovers while the Cardinals had 16.

PN-G went 14-of-24 from the free-throw line while the Cardinals were 11-of-18.

The Cardinals will participate in the Central Heights Tournament Thursday through Saturday.