BEAUMONT, Texas – Approaching the midway point of the 2018-19 conference season, Lamar University is looking to right the ship after a slow start in Southland games. The Cardinals are 9-11 (.450) overall and 2-5 (.286) in league play as they head to Thibodaux to take on Nicholls. The game will feature two programs fighting for the exact same thing – mobility up the conference ladder.
 
The Cardinals enter the week tied for 10^th in the conference standings, just a game back of their next two opponents (Nicholls and McNeese). Nicholls (10-10/3-4 SLC) will step on the court in a two-way tie for eighth in the league standings. Big Red has split the past two games but has dropped four of the past five. After winning consecutive games against Stephen F. Austin and Houston Baptist, the Colonels have now dropped three straight and four of their past six.
 
Unfortunately for the Red and White, the game will be played in a venue where Nicholls has remained perfect all season. The Colonels are 6-0 in Stopher Gym in 2018-19, and LU has struggled away from the Montagne Center recording just one win on the road (at Rice on Dec. 1).
 
The Colonels enter the week ranked fourth in the Southland averaging better than 72 points per game, but they have struggled at times defensively this season. Nicholls ranks 11^th in the league surrendering 73.9 points per game.
 
Nicholls offense is sparked by Dallas native Jeremiah Jefferson, who is averaging 16 points per contest. Jefferson's trek to Thibodaux was anything but direct after signing with Weber State out of high school and then transferring to Jackson State for a year. While Jefferson leads the team in scoring on the season, teammate Gavin Peppers has led the team during its seven conference games (16.9 ppg).
 
The Cardinals are second in the league in scoring averaging better than 78 points per game but are currently seventh in the league surrendering just over 70 points per contest. Big Red also leads the conference pulling down nearly 40 rebounds per game (39.5 rpg).
 
Senior Josh Nzeakor leads the team, and ranks sixth in the SLC, averaging better than 15 points per game (15.5 ppg). He is also third in the league pulling down 8.7 rebounds per game.  
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series against Nicholls, 26-11. Big Red has won four of the past five games in the series but is coming off a five-point setback last season in Beaumont. The Cardinals are one game over .500 all-time against the Colonels in Thibodaux. When Big Red steps on the court Wednesday looking for their third consecutive win on the road in the series.
 
Wednesday's game will tip off at 7 p.m. from Stopher Gym in Thibodaux, La. It can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI. Nicholls will be providing a free stream of the game via YouTube Live.