For Immediate Release             Jan. 19, 2025
 
Cardinals and Colonels Set for Early Tip Off Monday
 
BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University will be in Thibodaux, La., Monday to take on Nicholls in a Southland Conference showdown. The game, which was slated for a Monday evening tip off, has been moved to 1 p.m. to allow the Cardinals the opportunity to get back into town ahead of the expected snowy conditions.
 
Lamar heads to Thibodaux looking to hit the reset button of sorts. Just a week ago, the Cardinals were 4-0 and in a tie for first place in the conference standings, but Big Red heads east with a 9-9 overall record and tied for fourth with a 4-3 record.
 
It can be argued that Lamar began to hit the reset button Saturday in Lake Charles, La. against the defending conference champion McNeese Cowboys. Despite falling short on the scoreboard, the Cardinals outshot McNeese from the field, from long range and the free throw line and outgained the Cowboys on the glass. In addition to that, leading scorer Alexis Marmolejos – who had been held below double figures in each of the past three games – returned to form Saturday leading all players with 20 points on a 4-of-7 effort from three-point range.
 
Nicholls heads into the new week 11-7 overall and currently a game up on the Cardinals in the standings (5-2). It has been a back-and-forth season for the Colonels who recorded consecutive wins Saturday for the first time since early December.
 
Monday's contest is important to LU for multiple reasons not the least of which is putting an end to the current three-game slide, but a win and LU would move into a tie for third place in the standings with an early tiebreak scenario over Nicholls. If things play out in Lamar's favor, LU could also move just a game back of second place with a win and a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi loss (who will be on the road at Houston Christian). A win would also be a strong set up for LU as the Cardinals will be home for four of their next six games following Monday.
 
History is on Lamar's side in the all-time series nearly doubling up the Colonels (30-16), and Big Red has had a great deal of success in Thibodaux (10-10/.500). The Cardinals head to Nicholls looking for consecutive wins have swept the season series last year.
 
Monday's contest is set for a 1 p.m. tip off from Stopher Gym and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.  
LU vs. the Colonels

The series between Lamar University and Nicholls dates back to the 1959-60 season and is one that has seen Big Red nearly double up the Colonels. Lamar holds a 30-16 (.652) all-time series advantage but is just 10-10 (.500) all-time in Thibodaux. The Cardinals have won three of the last four meetings including a series sweep last season. Lamar enters Monday's game looking for consecutive road wins for the first time since the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons. 

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 375-191 (.663) all-time in Neches Arena. LU recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season and is 5-3 (.625) at home this year. 

LU in January

The Cardinals are 296-286 (.509) all-time in the month of January. LU has produced above .500 records in the month 32 times in program history which includes three perfect records (1965-66, 1968-69 and 1987-88). That win percentage jumps when looking at home games. The Cards are 206-109 (.655) all-time at home in the year's first month.  

A Return to Form

Junior Alexis Marmolejos appeared to break out of a minor scoring slump Saturday at McNeese. A native of the Domican Republic, Marmoleos leads the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) and had reached double figures in 13 of the team's first 14 games, but had been held below double figures in each of the last three. Saturday, Marmolejos returned to form scoring a game-high 20 points on 4-of-7 (.571) shooting from long range. It marked the fifth time this season that Marmolejos has scored at least 20 points in a game. 

Steel Barrs

Freshman Jayden Barrs returned to the court Saturday for Lamar playing in his first game since the season opener. The Manor, Texas native scored a basket and pulled down two rebounds in eight minutes of action at McNeese.

Recapping the Cowboys

Despite the final score, Lamar University beat McNeese in most statisical categories Saturday in Lake Charles. Lamar shot nearly 48 percent from the field while holding the Cowboys to 43 percent. Big Red also outshot McNeese from long range. The Cardinals also shot better from the free throw line (65 percent compared to 57 percent) and won the battle on the boards (34-32). Unfortuantely the difference in the game came on turnovers, where McNeese had a 12-point advantage in points off turnovers.  

The Great Wall of Beaumont

Lamar enters Monday's contest leading the Southland Conference in blocks (4.9 pg). The Cardinals boast of two of the league's top shot blockers in junior Andrew Holifield (1.9 pg/2nd) and senior Adam Hamilton (1.4/T5th). The Cardinals 4.9 blocks per game (89 total) rank tied for 31st nationally ahead of powerhouse programs like Kentucky, Kansas and Creighton.

The Cardinal Rule

LU has been one of the Southland Conference's more dominant teams. LU has won 53 percent of 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 has had 84 players earn All-SLC honors, including 32 first-team selections. Six players have been 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.