BEAUMONT, Texas – A new basketball season has descended on the Golden Triangle as Lamar University will open the 2022-23 Monday at the Montagne Center. The Cardinals will tip off the new season against St. Thomas (TX).
 
The new look Cardinals will look to improve upon a disappointing 2021-22 campaign, and they will do so as a new member of the Southland Conference. After a one-year hiatus, the Cardinals are back in the league they helped establish.
 
Monday's season-opener against St. Thomas – one of the favorites to win the SCAC – will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It will also take place with 10 new Cardinals on the roster – 12 if you include two redshirts from last year's squad. Second-year head coach Alvin Brooks, and his staff, rebuilt the Cardinals' roster for the upcoming season. The Cardinals' roster will consist of 10 new players, including four junior college transfers. Among the four transfers, three were named NJCAA All-American last season – Terry Anderson, Adam Hamilton and Chris Pryor.
 
While Monday's contest serves as the season opener, LU took the court Wednesday against North American in an exhibition and looked impressive. Led by a career-high 33 points from freshman Nate Calmese, the Cardinals won the exhibition going away, 116-76. Calmese was one of five Cardinals who finished in double figures for a team that shot better than 57 percent from the field.
 
The season-opening contest against St. Thomas will be just the second regular-season meeting in series history. The Cardinals defeated UST, 60-46, during the 2017-18 season.
 
Monday's season-opener will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.