BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team will step on the court one final time in 2015 as they close out their non-conference schedule Tuesday night against Howard Payne. The game against the Yellow Jackets is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center.
 
Winners in five of their last six, the Cardinals close out the year looking for their third consecutive victory and will look to do so against a Howard Payne team that is 2-8 (.200) on the year, and has faced one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules this season. Tuesday's game will mark HPU's 11-straight road game to start the 2015-16 season. Despite a tough start to the season, the Yellow Jackets enter the contest also looking for their third consecutive win.
 
There is quite a bit of history between the two school's as the Cardinals hold a 7-6 (.538) all-time record against HPU, but Tuesday's game will be the first meeting in the series since the 1962-63 season. LU holds a near perfect 6-1 (.857) record over Howard Payne in Beaumont. In addition to their 6-1 home record over the Yellow Jackets, the Cardinals are once again proving the Montagne Center as a tough place for opponents to play in. Big Red was 12-2 (.857) in the Montagne Center last season, and is off to a 5-1 (.833) start at home this year.
 
One of the Southland's top scoring teams, the Cardinals have averaged nearly 80 points per game this season, and enter the showdown against Howard Payne plus eight in scoring margin. LU has been led by one of the league's top freshman, Nick Garth, all season. The Houston native, started his collegiate career by scoring in double figures in the team's first 10 games, and just recently had the streak snapped in the team's most recent win over Texas Lutheran.
 
Garth has had plenty of help on the offensive side of the ball this season including another newcomer, Lincoln Davis. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pa., the junior college transfer enters the non-conference finale averaging nearly 11 points per game and is second on the team in assists. Lately, junior Preston Mattingly has picked up the scoring pace as well. After recording his first career double-double in the victory over Jarvis Christian, Mattingly is now averaging 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game over the course of the team's past two games.
 
The Yellow Jackets will look to keep Tuesday's game a low scoring contest as they average less than 66 points per game on the season. The Yellow Jackets are led offensively by Khyce Randall's 15 points per game, while Rickey Guillory is scoring better than 12 per game.
 
HPU is also a strong rebounding team averaging better than 41 rebounds per game, and outrebounding their opponents by nearly three boards per contest.
 
Regardless of what happens Tuesday night, the Cardinals will enter Southland Conference play in better shape than last season – a year that was considered one of the nation's top single-season turnarounds. LU was .500 last year opening league play, while the Red and White enters their final non-conference game this season three games above .500.
 
Following the game against Howard Payne, the Cardinals will stay on the court to sign autographs for the fans. Those wishing to purchase tickets for LU basketball games can do so by clicking here.
 
-LU CARDINALS-