BEAUMONT, Texas – The midway point of a key three-game conference road swing is the next focus for Lamar University (13-11/7-4 SLC) beginning with a trip to New Orleans, La. The Cardinals will face UNO Saturday afternoon looking to reverse a recent trend that has seen LU drop two of its last three.
 
The Privateers are a familiar team for Lamar as the two schools met just four games ago with Big Red pulling out the 98-73 victory in Beaumont. Since that time Lamar has dropped two of its last three – both road games – and now must do some work to get back in the hunt for the Southland Conference title.
 
The Cardinals enter the week in a two-way tie for third in the Southland standings (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi), just a game back of Nicholls, but 3.5 games back of the league-leading McNeese. Big Red is also a half game up on Southeastern Louisiana who they will be facing Monday.
 
The Privateers are in a bit more serious situation. While the Cardinals have stubbed their toe of the past week, UNO enters the weekend fighting for its postseason life. The Privateers are 8-17 (.320) overall and tied for ninth in the standings (3-9) a half game back of UIW for the final playoff spot.
 
For the first time all season, Lamar doesn't lead the Southland in scoring but they're separated from the top spot by a mere half point. The Cardinals have averaged better than 80 points per game all season and continue to be one of the league's top three-point shooting teams (.365 three-point field goal percentage – 2^nd/7.9 three-point field goals per game – 3^rd).
 
Historically, UNO, and the city of New Orleans, has been unkind to the Cardinals. Big Red trails the all-time series to UNO, 32-9, a mark that includes the Cardinals' 25-point victory in Beaumont earlier this season. Even with that win, New Orleans has won of eight of the last 10 in the series and the Cards have recorded only three wins in the Big Easy three times in 19 tries.
 
Big Red is inching closer toward locking up a spot in the Southland Conference Championships. Big Red needs just three more wins, or a combination of three wins and/or three losses by Texas A&M-Commerce and New Orleans to secure their playoff spot.
 
Saturday's game will tip off at 4 p.m. from Lakefront Arena. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.