BEAUMONT, Texas – Winners in four of their first five games, the Lamar University Cardinals are preparing for their toughest opponent to date, in arguably the toughest venue for opponents to play in America, when they step on the court Sunday to face No. 9 Kentucky in Rupp Arena. The Cardinals enter the game looking to defend a 4-1 (.800) record, and after Kentucky's 20-point thumping of Mount St. Mary's, the Wildcats also have a 4-1 record.
 
The Cardinals opened their four-game road swing Thursday with a hard-fought six-point victory over Utah Valley and have won consecutive games. Junior Avery Sullivan had a career night for the Cardinals in Orem, Utah, scoring a career-high 17 points and pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds while blocking three shots. The Cardinals finished the night with five players in double figures.
 
The Wildcats have also won consecutive games entering the Sunday afternoon showdown. The UofK has defeated Utah Valley and Mount St. Mary's in their previous two games and used an explosive second half to put the Mountaineers away. The Wildcats used an 18-3 run to put the finishing touches on the victory over Mount St. Mary's. Even prior to their previous two wins, the Wildcats have already put together an impressive resume with a victory over then No. 1 Michigan State.
 
The Cardinals will use one of the Southland's top defensive units to try and slow down Kentucky's potent offense. Big Red enters the game as the Southland's top defensive team in scoring defense (59.2 ppg), field-goal percentage defense (.360), rebounds (40.6 rpg), steals (12.2 spg) and is second in the SLC in turnover margin (6.80). The Wildcats are averaging 81 points per game on the young season and shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
 
The Cardinals, who have equaled their same start to the 2017-18 season, are 0-3 all-time against Kentucky. The last meeting between the two teams came during the 2011-12 season. All three previous meetings have been played in Rupp Arena with the first meeting coming during the 1986-87 season.
 
Sunday's game will tip off at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. Beaumont time) from Rupp Arena and will be televised on the SEC Network.