BEAUMONT, Texas – After an impressive showing against Our Lady of the Lake Monday to put an end to a brief four-game slide, the Lamar University men's basketball team now prepares for back-to-back games against Southern Mississippi. In an odd twist to the 2022-23 schedule, LU will face the Golden Eagles twice within the span of four days. It will be a tough two-game stretch as the Golden Eagles are off to one of their best starts in program history posting an 8-1 (.889) overall record through their first nine games, and currently ranked 18th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll. Their lone loss of the season came last time out against Southland foe Northwestern State, 84-82.
Despite being shorthanded for the majority of the early part of the season, the Cardinals have seen a jump in their offensive production compared to last season. Averaging nearly 72 points per game, Big Red is being led by one of the top freshmen in not just the Southland Conference, but the nation. Arizona native Nate Calmese leads the Southland Conference, and is the nation's second-leading freshman scorer, averaging 17.2 points per game.
Calmese is one of four Cardinals currently averaging at least 10 points per game, a number that doesn't include another freshman – Cody Pennebaker. A 6-5 freshman from Brooklyn Park, Minn., Pennebaker leads the Southland in blocked shots and has turned things up a notch offensively in recent days. Pennebaker has hit double-digits in the team's last two games a stretch that includes a double-double against Texas State and a career-high 21 points last time out.
The Golden Eagles are averaging 77 points per game, led by two players – Felipe Haase and Austin Crowley – who are both averaging better than 15 points per contest. But, it's the defensive end of the floor where Southern Miss hangs its hat. The Golden Eagles are allowing opponents fewer than 59 points per contest and five times this season they've held opponents to 54 or fewer points.
The Cardinals are 6-9 (.400) all-time against Southern Miss, a mark that includes a 1-5 (.167) record in Hattiesburg, and a 5-3 (.625) mark in games played in Beaumont. Big Red enters the week looking to put an end to a three-game slide in the series, which originated during the 1959-60 season. The two teams met last season with Southern Miss recording a seven-point decision.
Saturday's game will tip off at 2 p.m. from Reed Green Arena. The two teams will then make the trip to Beaumont, Texas and square off for a rematch on Tuesday, Dec. 13th at the Montagne Center. Tuesday's game will tip off at 7 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI, and streamed live on ESPN+.
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