BEAUMONT, Texas – Fresh off their historic victory at New Orleans, Lamar University returns home to host defending Southland Conference tournament champion Abilene Christian Saturday in Beaumont. Winners in four of their past six games, the Cardinals are coming off a 74-67 victory over preseason Southland favorite, New Orleans, in the Big Easy. It was just the third time LU has ever recorded a victory over the Privateers in New Orleans.
 
Things don't get any easier for the Red and White as they turn from the preseason favorites to a talented Wildcat squad that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season. Abilene Christian is one of just three schools that remains undefeated in Southland Conference play but sits in third in the conference standings (due to having played one fewer game). The Wildcats are 7-6 on the season and 2-0 in conference play (both Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin are 3-0).
 
ACU heads to Beaumont on a roll having won five of their last six outings with the lone setback coming at the always tough Wichita State, 84-66. The road hasn't been kind to the Wildcats during the early part of the 2019-20 campaign. ACU is 1-5 (.143) away from Abilene this season with the lone victory coming at New Orleans.
 
The Cardinals will look to make it two Southland wins in a row when they step on the court Saturday against Abilene Christian and remain among the lead group of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals head into the Saturday showdown in a three-way tie for fourth in the SLC standings just a half game back of ACU, and just a game back of SFA and Sam Houston.
 
The Cardinals have won four of the previous six games but have rotated outcomes in their previous five games. The good news for LU is sophomore Davion Buster appeared to regain his form Thursday at New Orleans. The Austin sophomore came off the bench to strike for 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Buster was joined in double digits by sophomore Avery Sullivan who scored 22 and grabbed 12 rebounds.
 
Saturday's game will be decided on the defensive end of the floor. It will pit the top two scoring defenses the Southland has to offer against each other. The Wildcats lead the league surrendering 62.2 points per game, with LU a close second at 65.1 per contest. The Cardinals are also holding opponents to a league-best 40 percent from the field.
 
The Cardinals will also need to win the battle on the boards Saturday. Big Red enters the weekend leading the Southland pulling down nearly 39 rebounds per game. Abilene Christian is currently eighth grabbing nearly 36 per contest.
 
ACU will look to force the Cards into mistakes. The Wildcats lead the Southland in turnover margin forcing opponents into just over 20 miscues per night.
 
Saturday's game will tip off at 2 p.m. Saturday from the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and will be streamed live on ESPN3.