BEAUMONT,  Texas – Lamar University men's basketball team will step on the court of the Montagne Center for its 2016-17 home finale Thursday evening when it hosts Nicholls. The Senior Night showdown is not only important in terms of LU trying to lockdown a spot in the Southland Conference Championship tournament, but it also serving as fan appreciation night. Admission to the game is only $1 to all fans as a way to say thank you for your support.
 
It has been a rollercoaster year for Tic Price's squad, in his third season on the sidelines. Big Red has experienced tremendous highs followed by heartbreaking lows this season. The highs have included wins over Oregon State and SLC preseason favorite Sam Houston State. The team has also had to deal emotional low points which included two overtime home losses in league play to go along with a stunning setback at Abilene Christian on a half-court buzzer beater.
 
The 2016-17 version of the Cardinals (16-13/8-8 SLC) have proven to the league their ability to bounce back. Big Red enters the final week of the regular season looking for another rebound win which would lead to its first trip to Katy since the 2011-12 season. The Red and White struggled in their rematch against Houston Baptist last Saturday shooting just 28 percent in the opening half and less than 39 percent for the game. Despite the shooting woes, LU battled back to tie the game in the second half but never managed to get the lead falling by seven points.
 
That loss adds to the importance of Thursday's game for the Cardinals who have lost four of their last five games. LU needs one more win, or a loss by Central Arkansas, to assure itself of a spot in the Southland Conference tournament. If the Cardinals can get by Nicholls (14-15/7-9 SLC) it would be the team's first trip to the conference championships since the 2011-12 season when it brought home the title.
 
For the Cardinals to earn that spot, they will have to go through a Nicholls squad that is playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Colonels have won two consecutive, and three of their past four games to move into the eighth spot in the league standings. Their two wins last week took Nicholls from 11^th in the standings and put them in a position of trying hold off Northwestern State and Central Arkansas for the final spot.
 
Despite not having a spot in the tournament locked down as of yet, the Cardinals still have a chance to move into a tie for fourth place in the standings. For that to happen, LU would not only need to win out but have Houston Baptist lose its final two games, and Sam Houston State lose at least one of its final two.
 
Thursday's game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It can also be seen live on ESPN3, and heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI.
 
LU will also once again be offering an on-campus shuttle service to students wishing to attend Thursday's game. The shuttle will begin at 5 p.m., and pickup/dropoff will take place in front of Gentry Hall. The shuttle will drop students off at the Montagne Center right outside Gate 1. The service will run from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
 
Southland Tournament tickets are now on sale through the LU Ticket Office. First-round tickets or tournament books can be purchased by logging onto www.LamarCardinals.com or by dialing (409) 880-1715.
 
-LU CARDINALS-