BEAUMONT, Texas – Fresh off their thrilling buzzer-beater over UT Rio Grande Valley, the Lamar University Cardinals (14-10/9-4 SLC) return to action Monday to take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Cardinals last-second winner kept LU in a three-way tie for second place in the Southland standings with Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls. Lamar enters the week just 3.0 games back of league-leader McNeese and a full game up on two teams tied for fifth overall.
 
One of those teams just a game back of LU is A&M-Corpus Christi, which adds even more weight to Monday's contest. The Islanders got off to a great start in conference play winning five of their first six, but the lone loss during that stretch came in the opener against Lamar – a game that saw Big Red rally from a double-digit second-half deficit. It is that win that is currently the difference between the two teams in the standings.
 
The Islanders head to Beaumont looking to right the ship as they have hit a few speed bumps in the past couple weeks. Corpus Christi has dropped four of its last six, including three straight on the road and are coming off a 14-point setback at Stephen F. Austin.
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series advantage (25-15) and hold an impressive 14-7 (.667) mark against the Islanders in Beaumont, Lamar is looking for consecutive wins in the series for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
 
Monday's contest is slated for a 7 p.m. tip off from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center.
   
LU vs. the Islanders
Lamar will step on the court Monday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi looking for consecutive wins in the series for the first time since the 2018-19 season. The Cardinals hold a 25-15 (.625) series advantage but put an end to a small three-game slide to the Islanders earlier this season in Corpus Christi. The Cardinals are 14-7 (.667) all-time against Corpus Christi in Beaumont. 
 
LU in February
The Cardinals are 292-293 (.499) 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 189-111 (.630) all-time in home games.
 
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 378-191 (.664) all-time in Neches Arena. LU recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season and is 8-3 (.700) at home this year.
 
Career High
In a game that was decided on a buzzer beater, senior Errol White picked a perfect time to record a season high in points. Making his third start of the season but his first since the second game of the year, Errol White scored a season-high 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the win over UT Rio Grande Valley. It was the third time this season that White scored in double figures and the first time since the non-conference finale against Texas A&M-San Antonio.
 
Back-to-Back Winning Seasons
Following Lamar's win over UT Rio Grande Valley, the Cardinals need just three more wins to secure their second consecutive winning season. The Cardinals are looking for back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 2018-19 and 2019-20 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 an outside shot at 20 wins this season. Lamar needs just six more wins this season to get to 20. It would be LU's first 20-win season since 2018-19 and the 14th overall.
 
Magic Number
Although it is still way too early to be focusing on the Southland Conference tournament, due to Lamar's hot start in league play this season the Cardinals magic number to clinch a spot in the Southland Conference Championship tournament stands at three. Heading into Monday's round of games, any combination of three Lamar wins or three UIW and Stephen F. Austin loses will secure Lamar's playoff spot, but with seeds 2 - 8 separated by a mere four games things can change on a game-by-game basis.
 
Improving on the Past
Last season, the Cardinals posted a seven-game improvement in conference play winning 12 games – their first 12-win season since 2018-19. Big Red needs just three more SLC wins this year to tie that same mark.
 
The Great Wall of Beaumont
Lamar enters Monday as the SLC leader in blocks (4.88 pg). LU boasts of two of the league's top shot blockers in junior Andrew Holifield (1.7 pg/2nd) and senior Adam Hamilton (1.6/T3rd). The Cardinals currently rank 32nd nationally in blocks.