BEAUMONT, Texas – Due to a quirk in the 2022-23 basketball schedule, Lamar University and rival McNeese will do battle three times season and Saturday will mark the second of those three meetings. Saturday's contest takes on more meaning however because unlike the first meeting between the two, Saturday's showdown in Beaumont will be the Southland Conference season opener.
 
When Big Red announced it was returning to the Southland Conference this year, it was granted a waiver from the NCAA to remain in the McNeese MTE last month allowing for Battle of the Border fans to get three helpings of the annual rivalry.
 
LU's has faced no other opponent more than McNeese in school history. In a series that dates back to the 1951-52 season, the Cardinals hold a 57-49 (.543) all-time series record. That mark includes an impressive 39-14 (.736) record in games played in Beaumont. Big Red has won nine of the previous 12 meetings but dropped a non-conference contest in Lake Charles earlier this season.
 
Saturday's contest will pit two teams against each other who are both trying to right the ship. The Cardinals (4-9) enter league play on a four-game slide, with losses in eight of their last nine. Big Red has suffered from significant injuries to its low post position, but even with the injuries LU battled back from a huge deficit in their last outing against the University of the Pacific but came up just short.
 
The Cowboys will open league play with a 3-10 (.231) overall record also having dropped four straight, and seven of their last eight. The Cowboys are coming off an 83-44 setback at No. 3 Houston and Saturday's contest will be their first outing in 10 days.
 
The Cardinals averaging nearly 69 points per game, led by freshman Nate Calmese's 16.0 points per night. Calmese is the league's second-leading scorer – despite his freshman status – and currently ranks as the nation's third-leading freshman scorer (behind Brandon Miller, Alabama – 19.2 ppg and Gregory Jackson II, South Carolina – 16.6 ppg).
 
The Cowboys are averaging 63 points per game, while shooting 41 percent from the field. They have two players averaging in double figures, led by Trae English's 11.8 points per contest.
 
Saturday's New Year's Eve conference opener will tip off at 4 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.