BEAUMONT, Texas – After four months of basketball, 2024-25 is headed into its final week of the regular season with just two games remaining. The Cardinals (18-11/13-5 SLC) will open the week with a Saturday showdown against rival McNeese. A showdown between two bitter rivals, Saturday's contest is what all rivalries should be, No. 1 vs. No. 2, and that is exactly what fans are getting Saturday.
 
McNeese (23-6/17-1 SLC) has won seven straight and already locked up the No. 1 seed in the Southland Conference Championship tournament. The Cardinals currently sit alone in second place just a game up on Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls. A win Saturday would go a long way toward helping Lamar secure the tournament's second seed.
 
Both teams also enter Saturday pursuing certain pieces of history. For the Cardinals, they are going in search of their first 14-win conference season while McNeese is chasing the Southland's all-time single-season record for wins (19).
 
The Cardinals just had their recent five-game win streak snapped at UIW Monday but have won nine of their last 11 games to put themselves in such a strong position.
 
The easiest way to the No. 2 seed is for LU to win out. Should Lamar lock up the second seed, it would be the Cardinals' highest tournament seed since the 2007-08 season. The No. 2 seed would grant Lamar a two-round bye into the tournament semifinals.
 
The history between Lamar and McNeese dates back to the 1951-52 season with the Cardinals holding a 62-56 (.525) advantage. That record includes a 40-18 (.690) all-time record in Beaumont.
 
Saturday's game is slated for a 6 p.m. start from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena and will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Cowboys
The all-time series between Lamar University and McNeese dates back to the 1951-52 season with the Cardinals holding a 62-56 (.525) all-time record against the Cowboys. The mark includes a 40-18 (.690) record in games played in the Golden Triangle. McNeese has won four straight and six of the last seven in the series including an 11-point victory earlier this season in Lake Charles, La., despite being outshot and outrebounded by Lamar.
 
Defending the Nest
Lamar has made the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center one of the toughest venues for opponents to play over the course of its 30-plus year history. The Cardinals are 379-191 (.665) all-time in Neches Arena. LU recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season and is 9-3 (.750) at home this year.
 
LU in March
The Cardinals are 66-74 (.471) all-time in the month of March. Lamar posted four wins in the month of March last season including one in the tournament.
 
Battle for Seeding
Despite the fact there are just two games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season, the fight for tournament seeding now begins to ramp up. The Cardinals currently sit alone in second place and have already secured a top-four seed. LU holds a slim one-game lead over both Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls. The Lions currently hold the tiebreak over Lamar – based on the head-to-head results - but the Cards currently hold the tiebreak over Nicholls (with one game remaining between the two). For Lamar to secure the No. 2 seed it just needs to win out. If the Cardinals can secure the league's second seed it would receive a two-round bye in the tournament. It would also be the highest seed for the Red and White since the 2007-08 season.
 
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 year 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. It would be LU's first 20-win season since 2018-19 and the 14th in program history.
 
The Great Wall of Beaumont
Lamar leads the Southland Conference in blocks (4.72 pg). The Cards also boast of two of the league's top shot blockers in junior Andrew Holifield (1.6 pg/2nd) and senior Adam Hamilton (1.5/T3rd). LU is currently tied for 31st nationally in blocks with Florida.