BEAUMONT, Texas – For the second time this season, Lamar University and McNeese will square off on the basketball court, this time it will be in front of the Cardinals' home crowd. The annual Battle of the Border will take place Saturday beginning at 4:30 p.m. from the Montagne Center. Big Red enters the weekend showdown looking for the series sweep.
 
The Cardinals (16-14/10-9 Southland) are currently tied for fifth in the Southland Conference standings (Northwestern State), just a game back of Sam Houston State. The perfect definition of a log jam, the standings currently have six teams separated by a total of two games with one remaining in the regular season. The Cards are just a game up on three teams – McNeese, Texas A&M-Corpus and Central Arkansas.
 
With one game left to play before the start of the Southland Conference tournament, there are still nine different scenarios that could play for LU in regard to the postseason. The best way to boil it all down, LU can do no worse than a tie for fourth in the standings with a victory over rival McNeese.
 
The Cowboys head west looking to even up the series. McNeese (14-16/9-10 SLC) has had a roller coaster of a ride since the last time they met LU. When the two teams met at the beginning of February, the Cowboys entered the contest as the Southland's hottest team having won seven straight and sitting in third place. The Cardinals picked up a 96-91 victory and McNeese then dropped their next six games. Recently, the Cowboys have righted the ship having won two of their last three, and in both victories scored more than 100 points.
 
When LU steps on the floor at the Montagne Center to face McNeese, it will be the 107^th all-time meeting in series history. A series that has swung back in favor of the Cardinals in recent years, LU will be looking for its fourth-straight win, and sixth in the past seven games. The Cards are also looking for their third series sweep in the past four seasons. The Cardinals hold a 58-48 (.547) all-time mark in the series, a record that includes a 96-91 victory earlier this season in Lake Charles. The Cardinals are 38-14 (.731) all-time against McNeese in Beaumont.
 
Prior to Saturday's tip off, LU will be honoring its two seniors – T.J. Atwood (Beaumont, Texas) and V.J. Holmes (Jupiter, Fla.). The duo enters Saturday's rivalry game having won 74 games during their career and help the Cardinals produce one of the most successful three year runs in program history. Despite missing half of his junior season with an injury, Atwood leaves LU with more than 850 points and nearly 400 rebounds. He is currently fifth in the league in scoring and 11^th in rebounds. Holmes has been a team leader each of the past two seasons. He is among the team leaders averaging 10.4 points per game this season and will leave Lamar with nearly 500 points in just two seasons. He currently ranks second in the Southland Conference in assists and steals.
 
Saturday's game will tip off at 4:30 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and seen live on ESPN3.