BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team will step on the court Saturday to host Houston Baptist in its Southland Conference home opener. The Cardinals enter Saturday's contest looking to get back in the win column after a tough stretch. Big Red (2-9/0-2 SLC) has dropped consecutive games and five of the past six.
 
The Cardinals will be facing an HBU squad that got off to a rough start in non-conference play, but appears to have rounded the corner with the start of Southland games. Houston Baptist is 2-8 (.200) on the year and has dropped four of its past five games, but has split its first two league games. In fact, the Huskies are just four points away from being 2-0 in league games.
 
After picking up an overtime win at home over Northwestern State in the opener, HBU hosted Abilene Christian four days later. The Huskies came up just short against ACU, 66-63, in that contest.
 
HBU is shooting better than 42 percent from the field, and averages nearly 72 points per game in an offense that is led by freshman Za-Ontay Boothman. The Buckeye, Ariz., native is the Southland Conference's leading freshman scorer (13.4 ppg) and is one of two Huskies averaging in double digits this season (Pedro Castro – 13.0 ppg). Also one of the top three-point shooting teams in the league, the Huskies have struggled at times to slow down opponents. HBU enters the weekend showdown ranked 12^th in the league in field-goal percent defense (.467) and 13^th in scoring defense (83.5 ppg).
 
That presents an interesting matchup against an LU squad that has struggled offensively at times this season averaging 61.5 points per game. Big Red has faced numerous injuries to its starting lineup, but even with the setbacks has watched its offensive numbers climb over the past couple of weeks. The Cardinals are led by junior Davion Buster (16.1 ppg) who is currently third in the league in scoring. Sophomore Anderson Kopp (11.7 ppg) is second on the team in scoring and is coming off one of his best games in the Red and White (15 points and 10 rebounds at Nicholls). Freshman Kasen Harrison is the Southland's third-leading freshman scorer (second leading among true freshmen) averaging better than 10 points per contest. He is also ranked third in the league in assists.
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series, 15-8 (.652), over Houston Baptist. That record includes a 12-3 (.800) record in games played in Beaumont. LU swept the season series last year and has won four straight and six of the last seven meetings.
 
Saturday's contest will tip off at 2 p.m. from the Montagne Center and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI. The game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.