BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team will look to get back in the win column Saturday against the Southland leading Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. The Cardinals return home to open a four-game homestand with the first game coming Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
The game, which was originally slated for a 6 p.m. tip, was moved to 3 p.m. in anticipation of potential freezing temperatures that could be hitting the area late Saturday evening early Sunday morning.
 
The Cardinals (10-9/5-5 SLC) have won three of their past four games but a loss Monday at New Orleans dropped them back into a tie for fifth place in the standings – a loss which came just two days after Big Red went on the road to Nicholls and knocked off the then conference co-leaders.
 
Lamar has a chance to really make some ground returning home for its next four. The Red and White are currently just a game back of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and only 4.0 back of the Lumberjacks.
 
SFA on the other hand has won four straight and 11 of the last 12 with the only loss during that stretch being a two-point setback at McNeese. The Lumberjacks are clinging to precarious 1.0 game lead in the standings over McNeese and just two over Nicholls.
 
Lamar trails the all-time series to SFA, 31-41 (.431) but are two games over .500 in Beaumont. The two teams split the season series last year with each winning on the other's home floor. The Cardinals took the second of the two games in Nacogdoches, 67-62.
 
Saturday's game is set for a 3 p.m. tip off (or :30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game) from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Lumberjacks
The Cardinals trail the all-time series to Stephen F. Austin, 31-41 (.431), a mark that includes a 19-17 (.528) record in Beaumont. Lamar has dropped six of the past 10 meetings but is coming off a five-point victory last season in Nacogdoches. The Cardinals step on the floor Saturday looking for their first home win over SFA since a double-overtime affair during the 2020-21 season.
 
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 385-195 (.664) all-time in Neches Arena. Lamar recorded a program-best 15 home wins in the 1987-88 season. The Cardinals are 5-3 (.625) at home this season.
 
Heading Due East
Sophomore Braden East recorded his sixth double-double of the season Monday at New Orleans. The Houston, Texas native scored a career-high 26 points on 11-of-16 (.688) shooting including a three-pointer and pulled down 11 rebounds.
 
20-20 Vision
Sophomore Braden East wasn't the only Cardinal to hit the 20-point plateau Monday. East was joined by senior Andrew Holifield who scored 20 points, pulled down four rebounds and blocked two shots. The Cardinals have had at least one player score 20 points in 13 games this season but Monday marked the first time this season that two players scored at least 20 in the same game. In fact, it marked the first time since Feb. 16, 2023 against Houston Christian that two Cardinals have scored at least 20 in the same game. That night former Cardinals Nate Calemese scored 32 while Terry Anderson netted 24.
 
Enter the Cardinal
Junior Rob Lee, Jr., averaged 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game last week to be named Southland Conference Player of the Week. He scored a career-high 31 points (24 of which came in the second half) as Big Red rallied to defeat Houston Christian. He followed that up with 20 points as Lamar traveled to Nicholls and knocked off the league co-leaders. He currently leads the Cardinals averaging 15.3 points per game.
 
Seeing Double⁵
Lamar University had five players score in double figures in Saturday's win at Nicholls. It marks the first time this season that Lamar ended a game with at least five players in double figures. It is the first time Big Red has had five players score at least 10 points in a game since Jan. 20th of last year when the Cardinals did it against Nicholls in Thibodaux.
 
Defense Doesn't Rest
LU has several players either leading the SLC or battling for the lead in several different defensive stats. Sophomore Braden East leads the league averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, Andrew Holifield is tied for second averaging 2.0 blocks per game and Cody Pennebaker is tied for sixth averaging 1.5 steals 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. He is also a member of the Cardinals Hall of Honor.
 
The Cardinal Rule
Lamar has been one of the SLC'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 selections, two freshmen and a defensive player of the year.