BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University heads to Thibodaux, La., Thursday looking for a shot at the conference season. With 30 games already in the books, the Cardinals 2022-23 season comes down to the final game. LU (9-21/5-12 SLC) enters the week in a two-way tie for ninth place in the conference standings, just on the outside looking in. For Big Red to advance to the eight-team Southland Conference tournament next week in Lake Charles, two things need to happen. First the Cardinals have to take care of business Thursday against Nicholls, then LU will need Northwestern State to beat UIW – a game that will be played in Natchitoches, La. If both of those things happen, Beaumont's Cardinals will be in the tournament, and San Antonio's Cardinals will be left out.
 
The Colonels (15-14/10-7 SLC) enter the last week of the regular season along in fourth place just a game back of Southeastern Louisiana and a game up on Texas A&M-Commerce. The Colonels are playing to secure a first-round bye in the tournament. Nicholls has been tough at home this season posting a 10-2 (.833) record in Stopher.
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series against Nicholls, 28-15 (.651), in a series that dates back to the 1959-60 season. The Cardinals are 9-9 (.500) all-time against the Colonels in Thibodaux. The 28 wins include LU's thrilling three-point victory in January that saw freshman Nate Calmese hit a three-pointer as time was winding down for the game winner. Calmese's basket put an end to a four-game slide to Nicholls. LU will be looking for its first win in Thibodaux since the 2018-19 season.
 
Regardless of what happens Wednesday, the Cardinals will end the season with at least a five-game improvement over last year. As it stands right now, the Cardinals have more than quadrupled their win total for last season and looking to get to double-digit wins. With seven more wins this year compared to last, the Cardinals current five wins in league play more than doubles the overall win total from a season ago.  
 
Wednesday's regular-season finale at Nicholls is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. from Stopher Gym. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.