BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University hits the road Saturday to close the 2019-20 non-conference schedule at TCU. Winners of two straight, the Cardinals couldn't have picked a tougher test than the Horned Frogs before opening the gauntlet of Southland Conference action.
 
The Cardinals (6-4) enter the in-state showdown two games over .500 after sweeping their most recent two-game homestand. Big Red defeated Rice by 13 and then recorded a shorthanded victory over Southern University (New Orleans).
 
TCU has jumped out of the gates quickly to the 2019-20 campaign posting a 7-2 (.778) overall record. Winners in three of their past four games, the Horned Frogs are coming off a 10-point decision over Winthrop two nights ago. TCU's two losses on the season (Clemson and USC) have been by a combined four points, with one of those (Clemson) coming in overtime.
 
TCU has a high-octane offense led by four players in double-digits (Jaire Grayer averages 9.9 points per game). Desmond Bane is the focal point of the TCU offense averaging better than 17 points per game. As a team, the Horned Frogs have scored at least 70 points five times this season while holding seven opponents to 65 points or less.
 
The Cardinals are averaging 72 points per game on the season, and outscoring opponents by nearly 10 points per game. Big Red has managed to maintain its offensive output despite several injuries during the early part of the season. Led by junior T.J. Atwood who is averaging nearly 17 points per game, the Beaumont native is off to his best start in a Red and White uniform. Sophomore Davion Buster has continued his hot play from last season entering the Saturday contest averaging better than 15 points per game.
 
An unexpected bright spot has been the play of junior Avery Sullivan. The Pflugerville native, has recorded four double-doubles on the season, and has already scored more points and pulled down more rebounds this season than in his two previous seasons combined. As a team, the Cardinals have recorded five 20-point performances and Sullivan's improved play is a huge reason for that.
 
The Cardinals are 2-9 (.182) all-time against TCU, but Saturday's contest will be the first meeting between the two schools since the 2010-11 season. The Cardinals have dropped the previous three meetings with the last Cardinals' victory coming during the 1986-87 season. Eight of the 11 meetings have been played in Forth Worth. The Cardinals enter the 2019-20 showdown looking for their first win in the series on the road (0-8).
 
Saturday's game will tip off at 2 p.m. from Schollmaier Arena on the TCU campus and will be broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI. The game will also be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.