BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University head men's basketball coach Alvin Brooks is set to tip off his third season at the helm of the Cardinals' program Wednesday when LU takes on St. Thomas (TX) in an exhibition game from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The game is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. and is free to the public.
 
The Cardinals are looking to build upon a nine-win season from last year which was a seven-game improvement from the year before. Lamar enters the new year returning three starters and nine letterwinners from last season. The Cardinals also return nearly 60 percent of their scoring and rebounding from last season, but more importantly they return each of their key leaders from the 2022-23 squad.
 
Guards – both returning starters – Chris Pryor (10.3 ppg) and Jakevion Buckley (7.7 ppg) are the team's top returning scorers and both ranked among the Southland leaders in terms of assists and assist-to-turnover ratio during their first seasons with the team.
 
Adding to the excitement surrounding the new campaign are the return of Adam Hamilton and Terry Anderson, both who saw limited playing time a year ago due to injuries. Hamilton (11.0 ppg and 5.8 rpg) got off to a great start last season before his season was cut short after just nine games. He will provide the Cardinals with a presence in low post on both ends of the court and can also step outside and hit the mid-range jumper.
 
Anderson entered 2022-23 with high expectations. Considered then the most athletic player on the team, Anderson's season was also hampered by injuries. While he was able to play in 24 games, he never set foot on the court at 100 percent, but even injured the former NJCAA All-American averaged better than seven points and four rebounds for the Cards.
 
The rest of the returners include Cody Pennebaker (G, 6-5, 187, So.), Brian Gordon (G, 6-2, 193, So.), Valentin Catt (C, 6-10, 232, Jr.), Max Pearcy (G, 6-1, 170, So.) and Janko Bulajic (F/C, 6-10, 230, So.).
 
The Cardinals bring size to the court every night that most teams in the league will struggle to compete with. The return of Catt, Bulajic and Hamilton provide the Cardinals with three post players 6-9 or taller. The Cardinals also added Aleksa Lekic (C, 6-10, 215) from Montenegro during the offseason giving Brooks three players standing 6-10 on the roster.
 
In addition to Lekic, the newcomers include Errol White (F, 6-7, 205, Jr.), B.B. Knight (G, 6-6, 189, So.), Javon Murray (F, 6-4, 225, Fr.), Jayden Barrs (G, 6-1, 190, Fr.) and Je'Sean Jackson (G, 6-0, 170, Jr.).
 
Following Wednesday's exhibition, Lamar will tip off the regular season Monday, Nov. 6 with a 7 p.m. game against Jarvis Christian. The game against the Bulldogs will be one of 14 home games for the Cardinals this season in a non-conference schedule that will see UTSA, UL Monroe and Southern Miss all visit the Golden Triangle before the Cardinals open Southland Conference play Saturday, Jan. 6, against Northwestern State.