BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University will close out its four-game road swing Saturday at Texas Southern. The Cardinals current four-game road trip has taken them to Orem, Utah to Lexington, Ky., and Birmingham, Ala., before closing the trip Saturday in Houston, Texas. Big Red enters the game looking to put an end to their first two-game slide of the season.
 
The last two setbacks have come at No. 9 Kentucky and against the Blazers. Unfortunately, the game against UAB was the Cardinals (4-3) coldest shooting night of the season for a team whose offense had been ranked among the league leaders.
 
Texas Southern enters the weekend showdown coming off one of the most grueling starts to a season of anyone in the nation. Saturday's game will serve as the home opener for the Tigers who are 1-5 (.167). TSU opened this year with a six-game road swing, a schedule that has taken them to San Diego State, Wichitca State, South Dakota, Arkansas, Northern Kentucky and finally at Montana Monday evening before returning home to host the Cardinals.
 
The Tigers have split their last two outings with their lone victory of the season coming against Northern Kentucky, 98-96. Texas Southern is coming off a 12-point setback at Montana.
 
Despite the disappointing outcome in the Cardinals' last two games, Big Red enter the contest with the Southland's best defense. The Cardinals are surrendering just 62 points per game. In addition, the Cardinals also lead the league in field goal percent defense (.374), rebounds (39.6 rpg), and they are second in the Southland in blocks (5.71 bpg), steals (11.0 spg) and three-point field goal percent defense (.289).
 
While those numbers are impressive, the Cards are looking to bounce back from an offensive output that saw them score just 48 points in a nine-point setback at UAB. The Cardinals finished the night shooting less than 30 percent from the field against the Blazers, a mark that included a 3-of-18 (.167) performance from three-point range.
 
Led by Tyrik Armstrong who is averaging nearly 14 points per game, the Tigers offense is averaging nearly 65 points per game while shooting 37 percent from the field, but they have struggled from three-point range at time this season. TSU is converting just 28 percent of its three-point attempts in 2019-20.
 
The Cardinals are 11-2 all-time against Texas Southern, and have won three of the past four meetings. The Cardinals are 1-2 (.333) all-time against the Tigers in Houston but are coming off an eight-point victory in Beaumont last season.
 
Saturday's game is slated for a 7 p.m. tip off from the H&PE Arena on the TSU campus. The game can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI.