BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University enters the final stretch of the regular season looking to go on run as the Cardinals fight to secure their spot in the Southland Conference Championship tournament in Katy later this season. The Cardinals are preparing for their final two home games of the season starting Wednesday against Incarnate Word.
 
Wednesday can't seem to get here quick enough for the Cardinals who are looking to erase the negatives left over from Saturday's two-point setback at Sam Houston State. Big Red held a four-point lead late in the game but two turnovers inside the final minute cost the Cardinals who were looking for the road victory.
 
The loss dropped LU to 15-11 on the season and just a game over .500 (7-6) in Southland Conference play. The Cards enter the week in a two-way tie for seventh in the league standings with Abilene Christian, and just a half game back of Central Arkansas. LU also enters Wednesday's contest 1.5 games up on McNeese and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Cardinals are fighting to earn a spot in the Southland tournament for the second consecutive season.
 
San Antonio's version of the Cardinals make their way to the Golden Triangle looking to play the role of spoiler. One of two league schools still looking for their first conference win, UIW will step on the court looking to improve upon a 5-17 overall record and a 0-12 SLC mark. UIW has lost 14 straight since a four-point victory over UMKC in December.
 
Historically, the series does not favor Beaumont's version of the Red and White. LU prepares for the matchup with a 3-4 all-time record against Incarnate Word. Despite the sub-.500 record, Big Red owns a winning record in the Montagne Center against Incarnate Word (2-1) and is going for their first three-game win streak and first season sweep in series history.
 
In addition to locking up a spot on the Southland Championships for a second consecutive season, the Cardinals are the verge of another winning season. Prior to last year, the Cardinals had not posted an above .500 record since the 2011-12 season. LU head coach Tic Price changed all that by guiding the Cards to a 19-win campaign and a trip to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) – LU's first postseason bid since its run to the 2012 NCAA Championships.
 
Wednesday's game will be a rematch of a contest that saw LU record a 90-69 victory in San Antonio earlier this season. That game saw a 26-point outing from senior Colton Weisbrod, along with 25 points from junior Nick Garth and a double-double from junior Josh Nzeakor. The Cardinals would like to see Weisbrod return to his offensive form. The team's leading scorer, Weisbrod has been held to single digits in three of the team's past four outings (although the lone double-figure effort was a 25-point, 10-rebound performance at Northwestern State).
 
Wednesday's game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip off from the Montagne Center. It can be heard on Newstalk 560, and seen live on ESPN3.
 
-LU CARDINALS-