BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University men's basketball team returns to action Saturday when they step on the court at the Montagne Center to host Houston Baptist. For the Red and White, it will be their first home game in the past 10 days, and just their second in the month of February. The Cardinals (12-13/6-8 Southland) hit the floor looking to erase the memory of a heartbreaker at Nicholls Wednesday evening that saw a shorthanded LU squad lead for the majority of the game only to have Nicholls escape late with a four-point victory.
 
The Cardinals enter the weekend showdown having dropped consecutive games and three of their previous five. The last time LU stepped on the court at the Montagne Center, the Cardinals recorded a seven-point victory over Central Arkansas – a win made more impressive because it was done without the services of sophomore guard, and second-leading scorer, Davion Buster.
 
Big Red is currently in a two-way tie for eighth in the Southland standings, just 1.5 games back of McNeese, and just two back of fifth place in the standings. The Cardinals are tied with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the standings, and the Cards and Islanders enter Saturday's round of games with a 1.5 games lead over UIW. While the Cardinals are hosting HBU, the Islanders will be hosting Abilene Christian, and McNeese is at Northwestern State.
 
The Huskies come to Beaumont in a similar position as LU – looking to fight their way into one of the top eight spots in next month's conference tournament. The Huskies (3-19/3-10 SLC) currently stand 11^th in the standings, but are just a game back of UIW, and only 2.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot.
 
HBU got out to a rough start on the season but has been playing better basketball lately. The Huskies have split their last four games with wins over A&M-Corpus Christi and at Southeastern Louisiana. HBU is coming off a 14-point loss at Abilene Christian Wednesday evening.
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series against Houston Baptist, 14-8 (.636), which includes a 102-92 victory in Houston earlier this season – just the program's second win all-time over the Huskies in Houston. The Cardinals are 12-3 (.800) all-time against Houston Baptist in Beaumont. The Red and White enter the weekend contest having won three straight and five of the previous six meetings.
 
The game against the Huskies is slated to tip off at 2 p.m. Saturday from the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.