BEAUMONT, Texas – For the first time in more than 30 years, Lamar University and San Diego State will step on the basketball court to face each other. The Cardinals (5-3) enter the game looking to bounce back from a conference-opening loss while SDSU goes in search of consecutive wins before they open conference play.
 
The Cardinals were off to their best start since the 2017-18 season but struggled in the Southland Conference opener against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi dropping an eight-point decision. Now Big Red will look to make that game nothing more than a distant memory when they face a very tough San Diego State squad.
 
The Aztecs are 4-3 on the season and have won two of their past three which includes victories over Oregon and Utah Valley. SDSU has been nearly unstoppable at home this season posting a 3-1 record with the lone setback being a double overtime loss to Troy.
 
The two schools have only met three times prior with the Cardinals holding a slight one-game edge and Wednesday will mark the first meeting since the 1992-93 season and the first in San Diego since 1990-91.
 
Wednesday's game is set for a 7 p.m. (9 p.m. Central) tip off from the Viejas Arena in San Diego. The game will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Conference Network.
   
LU vs. the Aztecs
The Cardinals are 2-1 (.667) all-time against San Diego State, but the two teams haven't met since the 1992-93 season. The Aztecs won the first meeting (during the 1969-70 season), but the Cardinals have won the last two. Wednesday's meeting marks just the second meeting on the West Coast.
 
Defense Doesn't Rest
Lamar allowed just 57 points to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and has held each of its last three opponents to less than 60. Saturday marked the fourth time this season that Lamar has held an opponent to fewer than 60 points. LU currently leads the Southland Conference, and is ranked 12th nationally, in scoring defense.
 
Transfer Leading the Way
Junior Rob Lee, Jr., led the Cardinals with 15 points Saturday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He also leads the Cardinals with two games of at least 20 points. He has scored in double figures in each of the past four games and currently leads Lamar averaging 13.8 per game. 
 
Like a Thief in the Night
Senior Cody Pennebaker has turned up his game on the defensive end of the court. After recording a career-high six steals in the win over UL Lafayette, he posted four steals against A&M-Corpus Christi. He is currently tied for the league lead (2.0 spg).
 
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 three more shots against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It marks the fifth time this season he has recorded multiple blocks in a game and the fourth time he has recorded at least three blocks. He is currently second in the league averaging 2.25 per game and tied for 25th nationally. 
 
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, three SLC All-Defensive team picks, two freshmen of the year and a defensive player of the year.