BEAUMONT, Texas – A rollercoaster ride. That is a term that can be used to describe the 2015-16 Lamar University men's basketball season through the first 16 games. This does not come as a surprise to LU head coach Tic Price, and his coaching staff. Knowing he had such a young squad, Price was preparing for the possibility. Before the 2015-16 academic year started Price knew with a team this young there was to be a growth process, and he would be "throwing his players into the fire" very early on, but that doesn't make the "downs" of this rollercoaster ride any less painful for a staff in the process of building the LU program back to the upper echelon of the conference.
 
The Cardinals entered Southland Conference play riding a three-game win streak, and had won six of its last seven games with the only setback during that stretch coming at Virginia Tech. After a road win at Nicholls to open conference play, the Red and White entered their conference home opener against New Orleans riding high, but that is where the "ups" took a downward turn.
 
The Cardinals turned the ball over 28 times against UNO and got edged out by four points. Since that time, LU has dropped three straight and enter Saturday's showdown against Northwestern State 9-7 (.563) overall, and tied for ninth in the SLC standings with a 1-3 (.250) overall record.
 
LU will be facing a Northwestern State team that will be looking to jump start its season after suffering through some adversity in the opener at Mississippi. The Demons (3-11/0-4 SLC) are one of three Southland teams still looking for their first conference victory of the season, and is the only team with four league losses.
 
The Demons lost a preseason player of the year candidate – Jalan West – to an injury near the end of the season opener forcing head coach Mike McConathy to go deeper on his bench very early in the year. Despite the loss of West, McConathy turned to another potential player of the year candidate in Zeek Woodley.
 
The Pelican, La. native leads the conference averaging nearly 23 points per game for an offense that ranks fifth in the SLC (75.9 ppg). Offense hasn't been the issue for Northwestern State this season. The Demons enter Saturday's showdown ranked 13^th in the league surrendering better than 87 point per game. The Demons have given up at least 90 points in a game six times this season including back-to-back 100-point nights.
 
Led by freshman Nick Garth, who is coming off a career-high 25-point performance last time out, the Cardinals are second in the Southland averaging nearly 79 points per contest. Defensively, the Red and White is surrendering 72.4 point per game, but during the three-game slide LU has struggled to slow its opponents down, surrendering 84 points per contest. Each of the last two opponents have scored at least 91 points.
 
Saturday's game is slated for a 4:30 p.m. tip off from the Montagne Center, and can also be seen on ESPN3. Tickets for all LU home games can be purchased by clicking here.
 
Fans who arrive early to Saturday's men's and women's doubleheader will receive a free Lamar University Basketball Jersey Rally Towel (while supplies last). The Encore Dance Arts Company will be performing at halftime of the men's game.

Big Red will be back in action two days later when they hit the road to face Southeastern Louisiana (2-14/0-3 SLC). Similar to the Demons, SLU enters the week also looking for its first conference win of the year. The Lions have lost eight consecutive since a 101-65 victory over Loyola-New Orleans at the beginning of December. SLU will host Incarnate Word Saturday before facing the Cardinals.
 
Led by Zay Jackson's 13 points per game, the Lions enter the week not only looking for their first Southland win of the season, but also for their first NCAA Division I win. SLU is 12^th in the league in scoring offense averaging less than 67 points per game. The Lions are surrendering nearly 78 points per game to opponents, a number that jumps up to 81 in conference games.
 
Monday night's game will tip off at 7 p.m. from the University Center, and can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI.  
 
-LU CARDINALS-