BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals split their most recent four-game road swing – which included a victory at Montana who was ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll – and now returns home to the open a three-game homestand. The Cardinals will actually be home for four of their next five contests beginning Saturday with their game against Our Lady of the Lake.
 
The Cardinals (3-2) are coming off an 83-68 setback to a very talented Oakland squad at the Blaine Taylor Classic. The Cardinals (3-2) were at a bit of a disadvantage in their second game as Oakland was playing its first game of the tournament while Lamar was competing in its second in 24 hours.
 
Lamar is led by Beaumont senior Andrew Holifield who is averaging 16.6 points, 6.2 rebound per game and is third in the league averaging better than two blocks per game.
 
OLLU – an NAIA power out of the Red River Athletic Conference – enters the week with a 3-3 record and is coming off a 34-point thumping of Texas A&M-San Antonio.
 
Lamar is 3-0 all-time against OLLU with all three games coming in Beaumont. The first meeting came during the 2021-22 season with Lamar recording a three-point victory but LU has posted wins of at least 34 points in each of the past two meetings.
 
Saturday's game is slated for a 6 p.m. start from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Saints
The Cardinals are 3-0 all-time against Our Lady of the Lake, with all three games having been played in Beaumont. The first game in the series came during the 2021-22 season where Lamar recorded a three-point decision. Lamar has won each of the previous two contests by at least 30 points.
 
Defending the Nest
Lamar University has made Neches Arena one of the toughest venues for opponents to play over the course of its 40-plus year history. The Cardinals are 381-192 (.665) all-time in Neches Arena. Lamar recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season. Lamar is 1-0 at home this year. 
 
SouthEAST Texas
Sophomore Braden East became the first Cardinal to record a double-double this season with 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the win at Montana. Senior Andrew Holifield just missed a double-double in each of the team's past two games (18 and 8 at Montana and 15 and 9 vs. Oakland).
 
Building on the Foundation
After a two-win season during his first year, LU head coach Alvin Brooks has improved on each previous season culminating in last year's 20-win campaign. What is even more impressive about the Cardinals current run is that it is done while also losing the leading scorer each season. If the Cardinals were to improve this year, it would mean at least a 21-win season and that would be the program's first back-to-back 20-win campaigns since 1983-84 and 1984-85.
 
Records Are Meant to Be Broken
Last year, the Cardinals recorded their best conference season since 2007-08, in addition to that, LU set a program record for Southland wins in a season (14).
 
The Great Wall of Beaumont
Known for what he does on the offensive end of the floor, senior Andrew Holifield is just as impactful on defense. The Cardinals led the league in blocks last season (5.0 bpg) due in large part to Holifield. The Beaumont native ended the year second in the conference with 54 total blocks (1.6 pg). Holifield is currently averaging 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game as a senior.
 
Building on the Past
Head coach Alvin Brooks has a direct link to Lamar's successful history. One in a long line of LU standout point guards, Brooks guided the Cards to a 47-16 (.746) overall record, two conference titles, the NCAA Sweet 16, a 3-2 NCAA tournament record and graduated as the school's all-time leader in assists.
 
The Cardinal Rule
Lamar has been one of the Southland'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 85 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 and three SLC All-Defensive team picks, two freshmen of the year and a defensive player of the year.