BEAUMONT, Texas – With just three games remaining in the 2018-19 regular season, and just a game out of fourth place (and a first-round bye in the Southland Conference Championships next month in Katy), the Lamar University basketball has a lot riding on the final stretch run. The hottest team in the conference, the Cardinals enter the week having rattled off a league-best five consecutive wins.
 
In addition to the win streak, the Cardinals have won seven of their past eight contests, including five straight on the road. The recent success has catapulted LU (16-12/9-6 SLC) from last in the standings to fifth in last month. The Cardinals enter the week just a game back of Southeastern Louisiana in the standings and 1.5 games back of Abilene Christian and still have a shot at the No. 2 overall seed. Unfortunately for the Red and White, they have no games remaining against the four teams currently ahead of them in the standings.
 
Over the course of the past two games, the Cardinals have eliminated two teams from catching them for post season play. The Cardinals magic number to lock up a spot in the Southland Championships is down to one. With one more win, or a loss from Nicholls, Central Arkansas and Northwestern State (all three teams are tied for 9^th at 5-9), the Cardinals earn their third consecutive berth in the conference playoffs.
 
To record that victory, LU's first test will come against a team that has already defeated Big Red this season – Houston Baptist. That game came back on Jan. 2 to open Southland Conference play. It was one of two overtime losses for the Cardinals in the first three SLC games of the season.
 
If the Cardinals have a lot on the line in the final three games of the regular season, the situation for the Huskies is even more magnified. HBU is currently sitting in a tie for seventh in the standings, trying to guarantee themselves at minimum the final playoff spot. The Huskies are just a half game up on Nicholls, UCA and Northwestern State, but they're only a game back of Stephen F. Austin.
 
The Huskies have made a similar in-season turnaround to that of LU. The Huskies opened year 1-6 but have since won five of the past seven games with the only losses during that stretch being a two-point setback against SFA and a double-overtime loss at Sam Houston State. The game at Sam Houston was close to being one of the greatest comebacks in NCAA history. Trailing by 25 points with five minutes remaining in the game, the Huskies rallied to force overtime. The game went to a double overtime before the Bearkats were able to escape with a victory.
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series, 11-8 (.579), over Houston Baptist and have won two of the past three. The Cardinals are 10-3 (.769) all-time against HBU in Beaumont but LU has dropped two of the past three in the Montagne Center.
 
In conjunction with Neches Federal Credit Union, the Cardinals will be hosting a Black Out Wednesday in the Montagne Center. Neches Federal Credit Union will be handing out black t-shirts while supplies last. Following the game, the 2019 senior class will hold an autograph session for the fans. With the start of Greek Week, LU will also be holding a student organization challenge in the Montagne where student organizations can earn cash just for attending the game. Free Chick-Fil-A will also be handed out to students in the student section.
 
Wednesday's game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI. The game will also be streamed on ESPN+.