BEAUMONT, Texas – After two tough down-to-the-wire losses, Lamar University hits the road looking to get back in the win column. The Cardinals (6-15/2-6 Southland) head to Northwestern State Saturday looking to climb back of the conference standings against the Demons who have suddenly gotten hot again.
 
Currently in a two-way tie for ninth in the Southland standings, the Cardinals get set to take on Northwestern State who comes into the showdown currently in a four-way tie for second and sit just a game back of the overall leaders.
 
After dropping three of five to open league play, the Demons have hit the reset button and have now won three straight, a stretch that includes an overtime victory at league-leading Southeastern Louisiana to now sit just a game back of the overall lead.
 
While the Cardinals have dropped consecutive games, they've quickly made themselves the team that schools at the top of the standings don't want to play. LU's two wins have come against Nicholls (currently tied for second in the standings) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (who was first when the Cardinals beat them).
 
The Demons enter the contest with one of the league's more explosive offenses averaging better than 73 points per game and are third in the conference in scoring defense. Recent injuries to the Cardinals' lineup have hurt the offense as the Big Red is enters play averaging 67.5 points per contest.
 
Saturday's contest will also showcase the top three leading scorers in the game. NSU's Ja'Monta Black (17.2 ppg) and Jordan Johnson (16.5 ppg) are currently ranked first and third overall while the Cardinals Nate Calmese is second averaging 16.7 points per game.
 
Saturday's game will tip off at 3:30 p.m. from Prather Coliseum. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live one ESPN+.