BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University will host one final game before taking a few days off for the Christmas holidays. The Cardinals will host Omaha Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The contest will pit two teams entering the contest from opposite ends of the spectrum. Members of the Summit League, Omaha has bounced back from a slow start and enters the contest with a 6-7 (.462) overall record. The Mavericks have won three straight and four of their last five after opening the year with three straight losses.
 
The Cardinals (5-5/0-2 SLC) jumped out to their best start since the 2019-20 season but have since hit a rough patch dropping three straight with games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, San Diego State and UT Rio Grande Valley.
 
Lamar hangs its hat on defense. The Cardinals enter the contest second in the Southland in scoring defense (67.3 ppg), third in rebounds (37.9 rpg) and tops the league in blocked shots (5.7 bpg). Two keys reasons for their success on defense are seniors Andrew Holifield and Cody Pennebaker. A Beaumont native, Holifield is second in the Southland averaging 2.2 blocks per game while Pennebaker is second in the league averaging 2.0 steals per contest.
 
The Mavericks bring a high-powered offense to the Golden Triangle averaging nearly 79 points per game. Omaha has three players averaging double-figures led by Lance Waddles 17.5 points per contest. In addition to their three players in double figures, Omaha has six averaging better than 7.0 per game.
 
Saturday marks the second meeting between the two schools as they squared off last season at the Akron Thanksgiving MTE. The Mavericks won that contest, 65-59.
 
Saturday's contest is set for a 6 p.m. start from the Neches Arena. The game will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Mavericks
Saturday's contest marks just the second meeting between the two schools but it is the second consecutive year they have squared off. Last season the Mavericks recorded a six-point victory over Lamar (65-59) in the Akron Thanksgiving MTE.
 
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 383-194 (.664) all-time in Neches Arena. Lamar recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season. The Cardinals are 3-2 (.600) at home this year.
 
Career High
Senior Andrew Holifield led the way for Lamar Tuesday evening against UT Rio Grande Valley. The Beaumont native scored a career-high 24 points. It marks the seventh time this season that a Cardinal has scored at least 20 points in a game. Holifield is one of four different players who has hit the 20-point plateau this year.
 
Like a Thief in the Night
Senior Cody Pennebaker continues to be one of the top defenders in the Southland Conference. He recorded two more steals Tuesday against UT Rio Grande Valley and currently ranks second in the league averaging 2.0 steals per game.
 
The Great Wall of Beaumont
Picking up where he left off last season, senior Andrew Holifield is one of the SLC's top shot blockers again in 2025-26. He blocked four shots at San Diego State. It marked the sixth time this season he has recorded multiple blocks in a game and the fifth time he has recorded at least three blocks. He is currently second in the league averaging 2.2 per game and tied for 26th nationally. With just two more blocks, Holifield will move onto the school's all-time top-10 list for career blocks in just over a year with the team.
 
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 Cardinals 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. He is a member of the Cardinals Hall of Honor as a player.
 
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.