BEAUMONT, Texas – With three games left in the 2024-25 regular-season, the importance of each contest now begins to rise with each contest. That is the case for Monday's matchup between Lamar University and UIW.
 
Winners of five straight and nine of their last 10, Beaumont's version of the Cardinals have secured their postseason spot but are trying to nail down the No. 2 seed still with an outside shot at a share of the Southland Conference regular season title (which would take LU winning out and McNeese losing out to close the season). Lamar has already secured a winning record on the current four-game road swing and a win Monday would give LU a sweep.
 
On the other side of the coin, UIW (14-14/7-10 SLC) is fighting for its playoff life. The league's other Cardinals are currently tied for the eighth, and final, playoff spot with Stephen F. Austin. UIW seems to be playing its best basketball at the right time having won consecutive games and three of its last four, and they are coming off an impressive two-point win over SFA Saturday at McDermott Coliseum.
 
UIW enters the day just a game back of Houston Christian and a game up on UT Rio Grande Valley, while Lamar sits a full game up on Southeastern Louisiana with three to play.
 
Lamar got the best of UIW earlier this season taking a 14-point decision in the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center, but UIW has been tough at home posting a 10-5 (.667) record during the 2024-25 season.
 
Monday's game is set for a 6:30 p.m. tip off from McDermott Coliseum in San Antonio. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
  LU vs. the Cardinals
The all-time series between Lamar University and UIW is one that has favored the Red and White. Lamar is 13-7 (.650) all-time, a record that includes a 14-point victory in Beaumont earlier this season. Lamar has won three of the last four and seven of the last 10 meetings. The Cardinals have had good success in San Antonio. Big Red is 5-4 (.556) all-time at UIW.
 
LU in February
The Cardinals are 296-293 (.503) all-time in the month of February. Big Red has produced above .500 records in the month 28 times in program history, which includes four perfect months (1960-61, 1963-64, 1983-84 and 2007-08). The Cardinals posted a school record 10 wins in the month twice (1960-61 and 1983-84). The February record jumps to 190-111 (.631) all-time in home games.
 
Holding Off the Lions
While there is still a lot of basketball yet to be played, the Cardinals are currently alone in second place in the conference standings. If the SLC tournament was held today the Cardinals would be the No. 2 seed, which would be the highest tournament seed for Lamar since 2007-08. The Cardinals hold just a 1.0-game lead over Southeastern Louisiana for that No. 2 seed and a two-round bye in the conference tournament, but the Lions hold the tiebreaker over Lamar. Lamar will need to win out to secure the No. 2 seed.
 
Improving on the Past
Last season, the Cardinals posted a seven-game improvement in conference play winning 12 games – their first 12-win conference season since 2018-19. Big Red has surpassed that mark this season with its first 13-win conference season since 2007-08. If Lamar can get one more conference win it would be the program's first 14-win conference season.
 
Back-to-Back Winning Seasons
Following LU's win at Northwestern State, Lamar has secured a second-straight winning season. It's the first time since 2018-19 and 2019-20 that LU has recorded consecutive winning seasons.
 
Pursuing a Benchmark
A benchmark for success in basketball is a 20-win season. The Cardinals finished one game shy of that mark last year but still have a shot at 20 wins this season. Lamar needs just two more wins to get to 20 this year. It would be LU's first 20-win season since 2018-19 and 14th in program history.
 
Cleaning Up the Glass
LU has been dominant on the glass in the past three games posting a +43 rebound margin. The Cards have also recorded a 44-20 advantage in offensive rebounds during that stretch.
 
Catching Fire Late
Lamar shot nearly 70 percent from the field in Saturday's win at Houston Christian (16-of-23/.696). Over the course of the Cardinals last two games, Lamar is shooting 31-of-48 (.646) from the field in the second half alone. That includes a 12-of-17 (.706) effort from long range.
 
The Defense Does Not Rest
Lamar held Houston Christian to 58 points Saturday. It marks the 10th time this season that LU's defense has held an opponent to fewer that 60 points.
 
The Great Wall of Beaumont
Lamar leads the Southland in blocks (4.82 pg). The Cardinals also boast of two of the league's top shot blockers in junior Andrew Holifield (1.6 pg/T2nd) and senior Adam Hamilton (1.5/T4th). The Cardinals are currently tied for 25th nationally in blocks ahead of Michigan State, Houston and Mississippi State.