BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team entered the game against New Orleans riding a four-game win streak, but things haven't gone so well since that time. The Cardinals enter their Monday night contest against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi looking to rebound from consecutive losses which has dropped LU to 9-6 (.600) on the season and ninth in league play with a 1-2 (.333) mark.
 
The two-game skid coincides with a stretch that has seen LU turn the ball over an uncharacteristic 46 times during those two games. Big Red's opponents have cashed in those mistakes for 51 points.
 
Things don't get any easier for the Cardinals as they return to the court Monday night against arguably the Southland's hottest team, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders own the league's best overall record, and are one of four Southland schools without a conference loss. A&M-Corpus Christi has won four consecutive contests and 10 of their last 11 entering the showdown with LU. The Islanders' lone loss during that stretch came at Wisconsin. The Islanders come to Beaumont after a nine-point victory at McNeese State Saturday evening.
 
Despite LU's recent struggles holding onto the basketball, the Cardinals enter the conference tilt with the league's second-highest scoring offense (78.4 ppg) which should present an interesting matchup. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi boasts the league second-best defense (67.7 ppg).
 
LU continues to be led offensively by freshman Nick Garth. The Houston, Texas native is currently ranked 12^th in the Southland averaging 13.8 point per game. Senior Dontavious Sears has also stepped up his play over the course of the past two games. The Memphis, Tenn. Native, has recorded a double-double in the team's past two games.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi comes to Beaumont with the league's second-leading scorer in Rashawn Thomas. The junior forward is one of three Islanders averaging double figures.
 
Monday's game against the Islanders is slated to tip off at 8 p.m., which is a change from the originally scheduled 7 p.m. tip. It will also be broadcast on the American Sports Network. Tickets for all LU men's home games can be purchased by clicking here.

-LU CARDINALS-

2015-16 LU Game Notes

LU Returns Home Looking to End Two-Game Slide
The Lamar University men's basketball team returns home looking to rebound from their disappointing setback against Central Arkansas. The Cardinals had won four of the last five games heading to Conway, but struggled in the second half of the game after being tied at halftime. LU enters the Monday evening contest 9-6 (.600) and tied for ninth in the conference standings with a 1-2 (.333) mark. The Cardinals have the tough task of trying to right the ship against a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi team that has been on a roll. The Islanders have the best overall record in the Southland (11-3) and are one of only four schools without a conference loss. The Islanders have won four consecutive games and 10 of their last 11 entering the Monday night's showdown in the Golden Triangle, with the only loss during that stretch coming at Wisconsin. A&M-Corpus Christi heads to Beaumont after a nine-point victory at McNeese State Saturday evening. The game against the Islanders will tip off at 8 p.m. – which is a change from the original schedule of 7 p.m. The contest will also be televised on the American Sports Network. 
     
LU vs. the Islanders
The Cardinals have dominated the all-time series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi posting a 17-6 (.739) all-time record, which includes a 9-4 (.692) mark in Beaumont. The Cardinals enter Monday's game looking to end a two-game slide against the Islanders in the Montagne Center. The Islanders have won four of the last five meetings in Beaumont. 

Tic Price vs. The Islanders
LU head coach Tic Price has only coached against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi one other time in his career. The lone meeting came last season when the Cardinals posted four-point victory on the road.

Home Sweet Home
The Cardinals have made the Montagne Center one of the toughest venues for opponents to play over the course of its 30-plus year history. The Cardinals have posted a 302-146 (.674) record in the Montagne Center. LU recorded a program-best 15 home victories during the 1987-88 season. LU was 12-2 (.857) at home last year, and is 6-2 (.750) this season.

Home/Away Comparisons
The Cardinals are 6-2 (.750) in the Montagne Center this season. The Islanders have proven they are a tough road team. A&M-Corpus Christi has posted a 4-3 (571) record in road games during the 2015-16 season. 

On this Date in History
The Cardinals have struggled historically in games played on Jan. 11. LU is 6-8 (.429) all-time on the 11th day of January. 

Lamar in January
The Cardinals are 269-241 (.527) all-time in the month of January. LU has produced above .500 records in the month 30 times in program history, which includes three perfect records (1965-66, 1968-69 and 1987-88). That winning percentage jumps when looking at home games. The Cards are 187-85 (.688) all-time in January at home.

Fab Freshman
Freshman guard Nick Garth has made the transition from high school basketball to NCAA Division I hoops look fairly easy. The Houston, Texas native scored in double figures in the team's first 10 games before being inserted into the starting lineup. Oddly, Garth didn't get to double digits in either start and was moved back into a reserve role. Since being moved back to the bench, he found his scoring touch once again. Garth is averaging 16 points per game in the team's past three games and is currently 12th in the league averaging 13.8 points per game.

Double-Double
Senior Dontavious Sears is becoming a double-double machine. The Memphis, Tenn. native scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds against the Privateers and followed that up with a similar performance at Central Arkansas. Sears got the start against UCA and scored 12 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. The 13 rebounds are a career high for Sears. He has now recorded three double-doubles on the year, while the Cardinals have recorded six as a team. Sears is currently one of four players in the Southland Conference to have recorded at least three double-doubles on the season. 

Dominating Depth
One of the things the Cardinals have been able to bank on all season is their depth off the bench. LU's reserves once again outscored its opponents bench Saturday at Central Arkansas. Big Red's bench scored 37 points while Central Arkansas was held to 20. LU's reserves have outscored their opponent's bench 13 times this season.
  
Keeping Up With the Jones'
Senior Quan Jones scored a season-high 14 points against Central Arkansas. Making his third consecutive start, Jones just missed his career high by three points which he set last season against Stephen F. Austin

Career High Again
Freshman Josh Nzeakor pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds at Central Arkansas. The 11-rebound outing came just two days after he pulled down a then-career high of 10 boards. The game against the Privateers was the first time two Cardinals had recorded at least 10 rebounds in the same game since Stan Brown grabbed 11 and Rhon Mitchell pulled down 10 against Charlotte during the 2012-13 season. LU has now had two players record double-digit rebounds in consecutive games.
  
Back in Double Digits
Junior Marcus Owens hit double-digits four times in the first 10 games but had been held below 10 in each of the team's past five games. Owens returned to double figures Saturday with his 13 points at Central Arkansas.

Costly Turnovers
The Cardinals were stung by 28 turnovers in the loss to New Orleans. The turnover bug reared its ugly head again versus Central Arkansas. The Red and White turned the ball over 18 times which the Bears converted into 20 points. On the other side of the ball, The Cards could manage only seven points from UCA's 12 turnovers.

The Clock is TICing
LU head coach Tic Price is approaching a career milestone in wins. Price has won 192 games during his career, only eight shy of 200.

A Historical Look at Lamar University
LU has been one of the Southland's more dominant teams throughout league history. The Cards have won nearly 54 percent of their SLC games. Lamar also has the most NCAA tournament appearances of any current Southland school (6), and their five NIT berths are also tops in the league. The Cards have had 76 All-Southland Conference players, including 29 first-team selections. Six players have been named league newcomer of the year, four have earned MVP honors and there has been one freshman of the year selection. Five former Cardinals have also been named SLC tournament MVP.

Up Next...
The Cardinals will return to the Montagne Center Saturday, Jan. 16 to take on Northwestern State. The game against the Demons (3-10/0-3 SLC) will tip off at 4:30 p.m. The Cardinals will then hit the road for a 7 p.m. showdown in Hammond, La. against Southeastern Louisiana. The game against the Lions (2-13/0-2 SLC) will tip off at 7 p.m. from the University Center.
 
-LU CARDINALS-