BEAUMONT, Texas – The Southland Conference race is off and running on the hardwood and after a thrilling come-from-behind victory Saturday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Lamar University will look to remain among the leaders when it hosts New Orleans. The game against the Privateers will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center.
 
The only folks more excited than the players to step on the court Wednesday might be the Southland Conference office. Although just two games into the league schedule, the SLC standings look more like I-10 at rush hour than a chase for a conference title. Of the league's 13 schools, 10 are tied for third with a 1-1 league record (including LU and its next two opponents). The only three teams not among the logjam are Stephen F. Austin (1-0) and Sam Houston State (1-0) and Southeastern Louisiana (0-2).
 
The Cardinals (8-7/1-1 SLC) entered the logjam by way of a heartbreaking setback at Houston Baptist, followed by a thrilling win against A&M-Corpus Christi. Big Red rallied from an 11-point second half deficit at HBU to force overtime but came up short in the extra five minutes of action.
 
Against A&M-Corpus Christi it was the exact opposite story. After shooting less than 29 percent in the opening half, including a 1-of-8 (.125) effort from three-point range and 13 turnovers the Cardinals could've folded against A&M-Corpus Christi. The Red and White made the proper adjustments at halftime and it was a completely different team in the second half.
 
LU shot close to 60 percent in the second half, including a 3-of-6 performance from three-point range, and only turned the ball over six times. The Cards also forced Corpus Christi into three-consecutive turnovers in the closing minutes of the game to edge out in front and never let go of the lead.
 
The Privateers (6-7/1-1 SLC) are also among the 10 teams tied in the middle of the league standings, and like LU, New Orleans also went to overtime against Houston Baptist. UNO put an end to a three-game skid with their overtime victory against the Huskies but have dropped four of their past six games. For the Privateers, they have struggled on the road this season, but they're hoping a trip to Beaumont is just what the doctor ordered.
 
The Cardinals have struggled in the all-time series to UNO, 7-28 (.200), and ironically a number of those losses came at the hands of LU's current head coach – Tic Price – during his tenure at New Orleans. The Cardinals are just 5-13 (.278) all-time against UNO in Beaumont. The Cardinals have dropped four straight in the series and are looking for their first victory since the 2014-15 season.
 
Wednesday's game will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center and can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI. It will also be streamed live on ESPN+.