BEAUMONT, Texas – Off to their best start since the 2019-20 season, the Lamar University Cardinals return to action Wednesday to host historic rival UL Lafayette. The first meeting between the two schools in Beaumont since 2010-11 season, the Cardinals enter the midweek showdown with a 4-2 (.667) record while the Ragin' Cajuns come to the Golden Triangle looking to right the ship after opening with a 1-7 (.125) record. 
 
The Cardinals are three wins ahead of last year's pace from a team that won 20 games, while ULL has dropped six straight and is coming off a six-point setback to Jackson State. Wednesday's game will mark the third against the a Southland school this season as ULL defeated Southeastern Louisiana but fell to McNeese. 
 
Wednesday marks the second consecutive season the two programs have met with the Cardinals recording an impressive 74-45 victory in Lafayette last year. It was the fewest points scored by ULL since the 1962-63 season. The Cardinals own a 46-38 (.548) record in the series, which includes an impressive 34-8 (.810) mark in Beaumont, and have won two of the last three meetings.
 
Wednesday's contest is set for a 6 p.m. tip off from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Ragin' Cajuns
The rivalry between UL Lafayette and Lamar dates back to the 1951-52 season as the two former conference opponents used to be bitter rivals. The Cardinals own a 46-38 all-time record against ULL which includes a 34-8 (.810) record in Beaumont. The Cardinals have won two of the past three meetings and are coming off a 29-point victory last season in Lafayette.
   
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 382-192 (.665) all-time in Neches Arena. Lamar recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season. Lamar is 2-0 at home this year.
 
This Year Compared to Last
The 2024-25 season saw Lamar record its first 20-win campaign since 2018-19. LU opened last year with a 1-5 record through the first six games. Lamar enters Wednesday's contest three wins ahead of last years pace through six games.
 
Hot Start
Lamar's current 4-2 (.667) record marks the best start for Big Red since the 2019-20 season when they also opened the year 4-2.
 
Located in SouthEAST Texas
Sophomore Braden East recorded a double-double in the team's home win over Our Lady of the Lake. He scored 14 points and pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds. He has now recorded two double-doubles in the team's past three games.
 
Building on the Foundation
After a two-win season during his first year, LU head coach Alvin Brooks has improved on each prior season culminating in last year's 20-win campaign. The most impressive thing about the run is that it is done while also losing the leading scorer every year. If Lamar were to improve this year, it would be the program's first back-to-back 20-win campaigns since 1983-84 and 1984-85.
 
20 Somethings
Lamar has had a player score at least 20 points in a game four times this season, coming from three different players. Junior transfer Rob Lee, Jr., has two of the four. Lee tied a career high with 26 points (on eight three-pointers) in the win over Our Lady of the Lake. The eight triples tied for the eighth most triples in a single game at Lamar. He is currently second on the team and 10th in the league averaging 14.2 points per game, seventh in the SLC in three-pointers per game (2.5 pg) and eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.417).
 
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 is currently tied for second in the league averaging 2.0 blocks per game.
 
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.