BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University enters Saturday's showdown against New Orleans looking to hit the reset button. After winning two of three, the Cardinals (9-20/5-11 Southland) have now dropped consecutive games to fall into a three-way tie for eighth place in the conference standings with McNeese and UIW (two games remaining). The Privateers have turned things around and are one of the hottest teams in the league. UNO (9-18/6-10 SLC) is currently alone in seventh place in the SLC one game up on the Cardinals. The Privateers have won three straight, including victories over Nicholls and at Northwestern State, after having dropped nine consecutive.
 
While the Cardinals have made the Montagne Center a tough place for opponents to play over the years, but the series between LU and the Privateers has been heavily in favor of New Orleans. In a series that dates back to the 1976-77 season, the Privateers are 31-8 (.795) all-time against LU, and 14-5 (.737) in Beaumont.
 
Saturday's game is equally important for both teams. The Privateers are currently in the tournament and looking to secure their position and potentially climb another spot in the standings while Big Red is on the outside looking in at the moment. The easiest path to the tournament for LU is to win out and have both McNeese and UIW lose at least one of their two remaining games.
 
There is a scenario where the Cardinals could lose out and still qualify for the tournament, but that scenario highlights Saturday's game between Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. If LU, McNeese and UIW all lose their two remaining games and A&M-Corpus Christi defeats Northwestern State the Cardinals would qualify for the tournament.
 
Saturday's game against the Privateers is set to tip off at 6 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.