BEAUMONT, Texas – A season-long five game-road swing comes to an end Thursday when the Lamar University men's basketball team steps on the floor at the Icardo Center against Cal State Bakersfield. The Cardinals enter the final game of the road swing looking to put a positive stamp on a trip that has seen LU post a 1-4 (.200) record in the four previous games.
 
The trip started out promising jumping out to a 28-4 lead at UT Rio Grande Valley – a place that has historically been tough of the Red and White – only lose the game in the closing seconds. Big Red also had tough outings at SMU and Houston but bounced back with a win at Rice. The victory over the Owls saw LU jump out to big first half lead and keep Rice at arms' length for the remainder.
 
The Cardinals (4-5) head to Bakersfield looking to erase the disappointment against Houston last time out and get back to the .500 mark on the season. Cal State Bakersfield enters the week with a 5-4 (.556) record and is coming off back-to-back wins (UC Merced and at Idaho). For Big Red, their long road trip is nearly complete, but Bakersfield is just as road weary. Thursday's contest will be just its third home game of the 2018-19 campaign, and just its second since Nov. 10^th.
 
LU would like nothing better than to exact a bit of revenge on Cal State Bakersfield. After LU opened the 2017-18 season up with a 3-0 record the Roadrunners came to town and prevented that streak from advancing any further by recording a 12-point victory in the Montagne Center. Thursday will mark just the second meeting in the series.
 
The Roadrunners are every bit as talented this season averaging 71 points per game, while holding opponents to fewer than 70 defensively. Bakersfield is shooting nearly 42 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc. CSUB is very strong on the glass averaging nearly five rebounds more per game than their opponents (36.1 - 31.7)
 
The Cardinals are scoring just over 75 points per game, while holding opponents to 71 per contest. LU is shooting nearly 43 percent from the field, but its three-point shooting has not found a rhythm yet. The Cardinals are shooting just 57-of-188 (.303) from long range. The Cardinals have done a great job on the glass through nine games pulling down 42 boards per contest.
 
Following the game, the Cardinals will be able to return home for their longest stint of the season. LU will be at home for three straight, which equals the team's longest homestand of the year (LU closes the regular-season with three straight at home).
 
Thursday's game kicks off at 7 p.m. (9 p.m. Beaumont time) from the Icardo Center in Bakersfield and can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI. It will also be streamed live on ESPN3.