BEAUMONT, Texas – After a disappointing performance at Southern Mississippi, Saturday, the Lamar University men's basketball team will have the opportunity to erase that outing from the memory banks as the Cardinals get ready for a rematch with Southern Miss. In an odd quirk to the 2022-23 schedule, the Cardinals will step on the court Tuesday to face the same opponent they played Saturday in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles are 9-1 on the season, but Tuesday's game will be just the fourth away contest for the USM with the Golden Eagles holding a 2-1 (.667) mark in those games.
 
The Cardinals will look to get back in the win column as they enter the week just two games under .500 on the season. Big Red is averaging better than 70 points per game, while shooting nearly 44 percent from the field. LU has four players averaging in double-figures led by freshman Nate Calmese who is tops in the league in scoring (16.3 pg) and third nationally among all freshmen.
 
Big Red's defense is being led by another freshman in Cody Pennebaker. The 6-5 guard is currently third in the conference in blocks (0.9 pg) just a tenth of a block behind the co-leaders.
 
Southern Miss is shooting nearly 49 percent from the field this season, including a 33-percent clip from long range. The nationally ranked (CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll) Golden Eagles are averaging nearly 80 points per game and outscoring opponents by more than 20 points per contest.
 
Tuesday's contest is set to tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.