BEAUMONT, Texas – For the first time since the 1999-2000 season, the Lamar University Cardinals have opened Southland Conference play with a 4-0 record following a 72-58 victory over a hot UIW squad.
 
The victory moves LU to 9-6 (.600) on the season to go along with their perfect 4-0 start. The Cardinals are now in a tie for first place with Battle of the Border rival McNeese, a full game up on the next three teams in the standings.
 
Just 48 hours after sinking the game winner against Houston Christian, senior Ja'Sean Jackson finished the night with a double-double, 15 points and 10 assists. He also added five steals and five rebounds to his tally.
 
Senior Adam Hamilton led the team in scoring with 16 points, while pulling down eight rebounds, for an offense that shot 29-of-60 (.483) from the field, including five three-pointers. Junior Cody Pennebaker also chipped in 12 points.
 
Lamar also outrebounded the league's other Cardinals, 34-28 and gained a huge advantage in points off turnovers. UIW turned the ball over 15 times while Lamar had 11, but LU made its guests pay for their mistakes. The Cardinals cashed UIW's turnovers in for 23 points while the flipside of the stat sheet saw the San Antonio squad score just 10 points.
 
UIW was led by 16 points from Davion Bailey and Shon Robinson. As a squad, UIW ended the night 23-of-52 (.442) from the field with five three-pointers.
 
The difference in the game may have come in the opening 3:04 of the contest when LU raced out to an 11-0 start and didn't allow UIW a field goal until nearly five minutes into the half. While Lamar never surrendered the lead for the full 40 minutes, the visitors remained within striking distance.
 
Another major momentum swing for the Red and White came at the 17:25 mark of the first half. UIW got a basket from Bailey to pull within a point, 41-40, only to have starting point guard Jalin Anderson get assessed a technical foul – his fourth personal – as he was forced to the bench until the nine-minute mark. Following the technical, UIW would only be within a point one other time as Lamar closed the game on a 25-12 run.
 
Big Red will put its four-game conference win streak on the line Saturday when they return to the court to host Stephen F. Austin. The Lumberjacks returned to the Southland Conference prior to the start of the year. The contest is set for a 6 p.m. tip off from the Neches Arena. It will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and streamed live on Newstalk 560 KLVI.