BEAUMONT, Texas – In an odd quirk to the 2023-24 basketball schedule, Lamar University will be facing a non-conference opponent for the second time. When the Cardinals step on the court Thursday to face UTSA it will complete a home-and-home series with the former Southland Conference rival.
 
The Cardinals (4-3/.571) took the first meeting between the two (90-82) in Beaumont. Lamar has split it last four contest since facing UTSA. In fact, the Cardinals have rotated wins and losses throughout the early part of the 2023-24 campaign.
 
UTSA is 3-4 (.429) on the season and has won two of its last three games with both victories coming against SLC schools (Houston Christian and UIW).
 
In the first meeting between the two, the Cardinals used a balanced offensive attack to get past the Roadrunners. The Cards had six players in double figures led by 20 points from Terry Anderson. Anderson also finished the game with 11 rebounds and was one of two Cardinals with a double-double (Adam Hamilton - 16 points and 14 rebounds).
 
Big Red has stuck to the theme of a 'balanced attack' all season. The Cardinals currently have five players averaging in double figures, led by B.B. Knight who is coming off the bench to score 12 points per game. In fact, it has been a different Cardinal leading the team in scoring in nearly every contest this season for LU.
 
The Cardinals currently lead the league averaging nearly 84 points per game (83.7) and are second in the Southland in three-point field percentage (.404) and lead the Southland in made three-point field goals. The Cardinals also rank second in the league pulling down 41.6 rebounds per game.
 
In similar fashion, UTSA has four players averaging in double figures this season, including three averaging at least 12 per game led by Christian Tucker's 12.4. The Roadrunners are averaging 77 points per game while shooting 40.8 from the field and 30.1 from three-point range.
 
Lamar heads to the Alamo City looking to continue to close the gap in the all-time series. Originating during the 1981-82 season, the Cardinals trail UTSA, 20-17, overall but put an end to a three-game series slide earlier this season. Big Red goes in search of its first victory in San Antonio since the 2009-10 season.
 
Thursday's game will tip off at 8 p.m. from the Convocation Center on the UTSA campus. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.