BEAUMONT, Texas – For the first time in a month, the Lamar University Cardinals (6-6) will step on the court at Neches Arena. Big Red has been on the road since a Nov. 30^th victory against Our Lady of the Lake, but it was a productive stretch for the Red and White. When the Cardinals began their most recent five-game road swing, they were 2-5 on the season, but LU returns home with a 6-6 overall record and sit in a three-way tie for first in the Southland Conference standings after road wins at UT Rio Grande Valley and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
Winners in five of the last six, the Cardinals now turn their attention to final non-conference game of the season, and of 2024. Big Red will host Texas A&M-San Antonio Monday. An NAIA school representing the Red River Athletic Conference, the Jaguars make their first trip to Beaumont with a 4-10 (.286) overall record. The Jaguars will be looking to right the ship when they arrive in the Golden Triangle. After winning three of four, the Jaguars have now dropped four straight.
 
Monday's game is set for a 6 p.m. tip off and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Jaguars
Monday will mark the first meeting between Lamar University and Texas A&M-San Antonio on the basketball court.
 
Streak Snapped
Lamar's season-long five-game win streak was snapped a week ago Saturday at five. The Cardinals win streak came to an end at Texas Tech, but it was the Cardinals' longest win streak since the 2020-21 season. It was also Cards' longest road win streak since the 2018-19 season.
 
Defending the Nest
Lamar has made the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center one of the toughest venues for opponents to play over the course of its 30-plus year history. The Cardinals are 372-189 (.663) all-time in Neches Arena. LU recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season and is 2-1 (.667) at home this season.
 
 LU in December
Lamar is 304-229 (.570) all-time in the month of December and has posted better than .500 record in the month 43 times. The Cardinals have notched a perfect record in the month four times. The Cardinals' December record is 201-47 (.810) during home games in the year's final month. Regardless of what happens Monday, the Cardinals have already secured a winning record for the month of December this season. It is Big Red's first above .500 December since the 2019-20 campaign.
 
Downeaster Alexis
Junior guard Alexis Marmolejos continues to be one of the top newcomers in the Southland Conference. A native of Santiago, D.R., Marmolejos led the team with 11 points at Texas Tech. It is the seventh time this season that Marmolejos has led the team in scoring. He has struck for 20 points in a game three times this season. He currently ranks third in the league in scoring (15.8 ppg). He has also scored in double figures in 11 of the team's 12 games.
 
Sharing the Wealth
Four Cardinals scored in double figures at Southern Mississippi. It marks the fifth time this season that LU has had at least four players score in double figures.
 
Action Jackson
Senior Ja'Sean Jackson is off to the best start of his career. He is currently second on the team and 20th in the league, averaging 11.8 points per game. The San Antonio native is also tied for fifth in the conference in assists (3.8 apg) and tied for fifth in steals (1.6 spg).
 
The Great Wall of Beaumont
Lamar enters the week boasting of two of the league's top five shot blockers. Junior Andrew Holifield is third in the league averaging 1.8 blocks per game while senior Adam Hamilton is tied for fifth at 1.4 per game.
 
The Cardinal Rule
LU has been one of the Southland Conference's more dominant teams. LU has won 53 percent of the league games and has more NCAA tournament appearances than any of the current SLC schools (6), and their five NIT berths are also tops in the league. LU had 84 players earn All-SLC honors, including 32 first-team selections. Six players were named league newcomer of the year, five SLC tournament MVPs, four SLC Players of the Year, two freshmen of the year and a defensive player of the year.