BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team (11-17/3-13 Southland) steps on the court Monday to face rival McNeese State looking to put an end to a five-game slide at home. The Cardinals will be looking to end the skid against the last team they have defeated this year. The Cowboys (7-19/5-11 Southland) travel to Beaumont after ending a four-game slide in dramatic fashion.
 
After leading Nicholls virtually the whole game, McNeese State found itself down five with just over a minute remaining in the contest, but the Cowboys rallied late and tied the game on a three-pointer from freshman Jarren Greenwood with 4.5 seconds remaining. There was more suspense in the extra stanza as another freshman – Jamaya Burr – sank a basket in the lane with 2.7 seconds to secure the win.
 
The win, combined with LU's setback at Incarnate Word Saturday, has the Cardinals in the tough spot of being two games behind McNeese with two games to play. The Cardinals must win their two remaining contests, plus have McNeese State lose at Central Arkansas. In addition, LU also needs Nicholls to drop at least two of their final three games.
 
Big Red will be looking for a repeat performance against the Cowboys after posting an 11-point decision over the McNeese in Lake Charles, La. It was a big win for multiple reasons. It was a win over a rival, it ended an eight-game skid, it was the Cards' first victory in Lake Charles since the 1997 season and most importantly kept LU's postseason hopes alive.
 
Monday's game will serve as the final home game for four LU seniors. Prior to tip off, the Cardinals will honor LeMon Gregory, Quan Jones, Preston Mattingly and Dontavious Sears.
 
In addition to honoring its seniors, the Cardinals will also recognize the brave men and women who serve our country. All military members will receive free admission to the game by wearing their uniform or by showing proper ID. Also, the student organization with the best attendance, school spirit and creativity during the game will be rewarded with cash prizes.
 
Monday's game is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking here. The game will also be televised on ESPN3 – the network's online platform.
  
Saying Good-Bye to the Seniors
The Cardinals will be recognizing their 2016 senior class Monday prior to tipoff against McNeese State. Four seniors will be playing their final game in the Montagne Center. The 2016 senior class consists of LeMon Gregory (Center/Greenville, Ky.), Quan Jones (Guard/Little Rock, Ark.), Preston Mattingly (Forward/Evansville, Ind.) and Dontavious Sears (Forward/Memphis, Tenn.).
 
LU vs. the Cowboys
The Cardinals lead the all-time series against McNeese State, 52-46 (.542). The Cardinals have won two of the past three meetings, including an 11-point decision last week in Lake Charles, La. which ended a 15-game drought on the road that dated back to the 1997-98 season. The Cardinals have been dominant against their rivals in Beaumont. LU is 37-13 (.740) all-time in games played in the Golden Triangle. Big Red will be looking for its first season sweep of McNeese State since the 1993-94 season.
 
Price vs. the Cowboys
LU head coach Tic Price is 2-1 (.667) all-time against his former school. Price, and the Cardinals, split the series last season, and LU recorded an 87-76 victory in Lake Charles earlier this season.
 
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 303-152 (.666) 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 7-8 (.467) this season.
 
Cardinals on ESPN3
Lamar University announced an agreement with ESPN3 last month to have all of their home games televised by the nationwide leader in sports. ESPN3 is the network's online platform.  The Cards are 1-7 (.125) at home since announcing the agreement with ESPN3.
 
Home/Away Comparisons
The Cardinals are a game under .500 (7-8) when playing in the Montagne Center. McNeese State is still looking for its first road win of the season. The Cowboys enter the week 0-13 in road games this year.
 
On this Date in History
Monday's game against McNeese State will be just the third time in school history that LU has played on Feb. 29. The Cardinals are a perfect 2-0 in games played on the 29th. It will be the Cards first time to play a game on the 29th since the 1983-84 season when they knocked off UTSA, 86-73.
 
Lamar in February
The LU Cardinals are 266-263 (.503) all-time in the month of February. Big Red has produced above .500 records in the month 27 times in program history, which includes four perfect months (1960-61, 1963-64, 1983-84 and 2007-08). The Cardinals recorded a school record 10 wins in the month of February twice (1960-61 and 1983-84). The February record jumps to 173-97 (.641) in home games. LU is 92-182 (.336) during February road games.
 
The World according to Garth
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 all but six of the team's games this season, which includes his first two career starts. He is the Southland's second-leading freshman scorer averaging 13.8 points per game (Jaylen Franklin - 16.3 ppg).
 
Scoring Punch off the Bench
Freshman Nick Garth has a chance to accomplish something that hasn't happened at LU in several years. The Houston, Texas product has come off the bench in all but five games this season, and leads the team in scoring. If he continues to the lead the team, he would be just the third player in program history to be a reserve and lead the team in that category, and he would be just the second freshman to accomplish the feat. The other two players are Joey Ray (2000-01 - six starts) and Keith Veney (1992-93 - 13 starts).
 
Postseason Scenario
The Cardinals still have a path to the Southland Conference Championship tournament in Katy. LU must win its final two games and it needs McNeese State to lose its final two and have Nicholls lose at least two of its final three games.
 
Career High
Senior Preston Mattingly recorded one of the best nights his career Saturday afternoon in San Antonio. The junior came off the bench to score a career-high 22 points on 7-of-9 (.778) shooting. He was also 7-of-8 (.875) from the free throw line and 1-of-1 from beyond the arc. 
 
The Price Is Right
LU head coach Tic Price is approaching a career milestone in wins. Price has won 194 games during his career, only six shy of 200.
 
 
Taking Care of the Ball
The Cardinals turned the ball over only eight times Saturday at Incarnate Word. It was the team's third-best total of the season. The Cardinals recorded a season-best six in the first game against McNeese State in Lake Charles, La.
 
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. The Cardinals also have 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 close out the 2015-16 regular-season Thursday, Mar. 3, against Sam Houston State. The game against the Bearkats will tip off at 6:30 p.m. from the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.