BEAUMONT, Texas -- When the Lamar University men's basketball team steps on the court Sunday to open a three-game homestand, it will be facing a team in a similar position. Big Red is scheduled to tip off against UC Riverside Sunday at 2 p.m., and enters the game stinging from an eight-point loss Wednesday night at Rice. The Highlanders travel to Beaumont having dropped two of their last three games and is coming off a six-point loss at Rice.
 
The Cardinals got out to a slow start Wednesday evening at Rice falling behind by 15 points before staging a rally early in the second half. Sparked by consecutive three-pointers from sophomore Kevin Booze, the Cardinals went on a 13-3 run and claimed a one-point lead less than three minutes into the half. The contest remained close for the rest of the half before Rice hit a couple of big baskets late to take an eight-point advantage.
 
The Highlanders just missed starting the year 3-0 with a one-point loss at  San Francisco, but bounced back to post an 81-55 victory over Delaware State. Riverside comes to Beaumont with a similar outcome at Rice to the Cardinals. The Highlanders got in early foul trouble falling as the Owls were edged out UC Riverside for their second-straight win.
 
The contest is shaping up as a high-scoring affair between two talented offenses. UC Riverside averages better than 79 points per game led by three players averaging in double-figures. The Cardinals are averaging 83.5 points per game led by three in double figures as well. LU would like to see more consistency from sophomore guard Kevin Booze. Although Booze is leading the team averaging better than 14 points per game, he has scored at least 20 in two games, while scoring a total of 12 points in the other two games.
 
Junior college transfer Lincoln Davis is second on the team averaging 14 points per contest, while freshman guard Nick Garth has started his college career reaching double figures in each of the team's first four games. He is averaging 13 per contest.
 
In addition to having the Southland's top scoring offense, LU is also doing a good job on the other end of the floor as well. The Red and White is pulling down a conference-best 47 rebounds per game, and lead the league blocking 6.5 blocks per game. The Cards have the league's top-two shot blockers through four games. Junior college transfer Christian Kennedy is coming off the bench to average 2.5 blocks per game, while freshman Dorian Chatman is averaging 2.3 per game.
 
Sunday's showdown against UC Riverside will be the third meeting between the two schools on the court. The Cardinals come into the contest with a perfect 2-0 record all-time against the Highlanders. The first victory was a 34-point decision during the 1985-86 season. LU's second win in the series came during the 2009-10 campaign when Big Red posted a 90-75 victory.
 
-LU CARDINALS-