BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team heads to Chicago, Ill., Tuesday looking to put an end to its current two-game skid, but will have to do so against a very tough DePaul squad. Both squads enter the contest from the same end of the spectrum.
After a quick start out of the gate, the Cardinals (4-3) have stumbled in their past two contests dropping road games to Idaho State and San Francisco. It's a similar story for the Blue Demons who are 4-2 (.667) on the year, but are coming off a 14-point setback at Northwestern. Prior to the loss, DePaul had won three consecutive.
The Blue Demons are a perfect 4-0 at Allstate Arena to start the young season, while LU has fallen below the .500 mark (2-3) on the road. Big Red can close out the road swing with a .500 mark with a win in Chicago.
Tuesday's contest will be the first between the two schools since the 1979-80 season when the Cardinals dropped a two-point decision to DePaul, 63-61. That contest was close to being one of the biggest upsets in basketball history as the Blue Demons were ranked No. 1 in the polls. Oddly, that season was also the last time LU defeated Oregon State prior to the 2016-17 season (LU dropped the Beavers, 63-60, last month).
For the Cardinals to get back in the win column they will have to break out of a mini offensive slump that has seen them score no more than 63 points in their previous two contests. LU struggled from the field against Idaho State shooting less than 31 percent from the field. The Cards were more accurate from the field Friday at San Francisco, but were hurt by turnovers. LU coughed up the ball 16 times which led to 23 USF points.
DePaul's offense has been averaging nearly 71 points per game on the season, but their defense has really been causing problems for opponents. The Blue Demons are holding teams to fewer than 70 points per game, and have held three schools to fewer than 70 points this season.
The Blue Demons enter the week with three players averaging double figures, led by Eli Cain's 19.2 points per game. Cain is joined in double figures by Billy Garrett (12.2 pg) and Darrick Wood (11.8).
Junior
Colton Weisbrod continues to lead the Cardinals in scoring and rebounding. The Nederland, Texas native ranks among the Southland's top 10 averaging nearly 17 points per game (16.7 pg) and leads the league pulling down 10.3 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard
Nick Garth is averaging 11.4 points off the bench.
Tuesday's game closes out a long four-game road swing, but the Cards will only be home for one before returning to the road again. The Cardinals will host Austin College Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m., before heading to UT Rio Grande Valley six days later. Following the game against the Vaqueros, the Cardinals will be home for three before opening Southland Conference play on the road.
Tuesday's game is slated to tip off at 8 p.m. from Allstate Arena. It will be televised on Fox Sports Net SW Plus, and can be heard on Newstalk 560 KLVI.
-LU CARDINALS-
