BEAUMONT, Texas -- In an odd quirk to the 2022-23 schedule, the Lamar University men's basketball team is preparing to face McNeese for the third time this year (once in non-conference play) when it travels to Lake Charles Thursday. The trip back to Lake Charles comes as the Cardinals (6-16/2-7 SLC) look to put an end to a three-game slide. Big Red enters the week currently on the outside looking in for the Southland Conference tournament. Big Red is currently tied with McNeese a game back of New Orleans for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Cowboys (5-17/2-7 SLC) have dropped seven-straight games since a 15-point victory over Northwestern State.

Th Cardinals own a 61-52 (.540) all-time record in the series with their rivals, but the Cowboys have had the upper hand so far this season. While the two schools have split the last six meetings, McNeese has won the previous two games. The Cardinals trail the all-time series in Lake Charles, 18-34 (.346).

LU's Nate Calmese continues to make a strong case for league freshmen of the year honors. The Arizona native has scored at least 20 points in five times in the team's last eight games, and 10 times this season (a mark which ranks among the national leaders for freshmen). He is currently second in the Southland averaging 16.9 points per game, a mark which ranks among the nation's top 120 scorers and is the nation's fourth-leading freshman scorer.

Classmate Janko Bulajic is coming off a career-high effort Saturday in Northwestern State. The 6-10 Montenegro native scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in his second career start for the Red and White.

Thursday's game is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. from the Legacy Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560, and streamed live on ESPN+.

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