BEAUMONT, Texas – With just four games remaining in the 2025-26 regular season, teams are making their final surge forward to improve their spot in the Southland Conference standings as we work our way toward next month's Southland Conference basketball tournament. For Lamar University, they are trying to secure their spot in the postseason currently seventh in the standings.
 
It has been a rough stretch for the Cardinals (12-15/7-11 SLC) who enter the weekend showdown against New Orleans having dropped four straight and five of the previous six. Despite the rough patch, the Cardinals have managed to remain in seventh place overall – which is both good and bad. The good being despite the rough stretch, LU has continued to hold onto its playoff position. The bad being the three teams tied fourth ahead of Lamar have increased their gap while three teams chasing Lamar have closed the gap.
 
Entering Saturday, the Cardinals are 3.0 games back of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, New Orleans and Nicholls, and a game up on East Texas A&M, Houston Christian and Northwestern State. The Cardinals still have games remaining with three of the four of the schools mentioned.
 
Saturday's contest against UNO will be the first since a Jan. 19^th setback in the Big Easy. The Privateers lead the all-time series, 34-11, against Lamar which includes a 16-6 record in favor of UNO in Beaumont.
 
Saturday's game is slated for a 6 p.m. start from the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 and streamed live on ESPN+.
   
LU vs. the Privateers
The history between Lamar and New Orleans historically has not favored Big Red. LU is 11-34 (.244) all-time against UNO. Unfortunately, the Cards have just two more home wins in the series than they do on the road. LU is 6-16 (.273) all-time against the Privateers in Beaumont. The Cardinals appeared to be flipping the series in their favor following three consecutive wins, but UNO took the only meeting during the 2024-25 season and defeated Lamar earlier this season in New Orleans.
 
A bEAST on the Boards
Despite not reaching double-figure rebounds in the team's past two games, Houston native Braden East has dominated the Southland in rebounds during the 2025-26 season. He has recorded double-figure rebounds in 14 games this year. He currently leads the Southland averaging 9.1 rebounds per game and is second in the league pulling down 2.9 offensive rebounds per game.
 
Double-Double
Sophomore Braden East's run of consecutive games with a double-double came to an end last Saturday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, but he continues to be one of the nation's leaders. Despite not reaching the feat in his eighth consecutive game, East still leads the Southland Conference, and is tied for 17th nationally, with 12 double-doubles.
 
The Maker of Cheap Desserts
Senior Cody Pennebaker recorded his first double-double of the season Monday at UT Rio Grande Valley. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native scored 12 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds against the Vaqueros.
 
Century Mark
Senior Andrew Holifield reached a career milestone Saturday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He recorded four blocks in the game, but it was his second of the day that made him the fifth Cardinal all-time to record 100 swats for his career. This coming in less than two full seasons with the team, he currently needs just three more blocks to move into fourth all-time at LU (Thomas Fairley - 105). He is currently third in the SLC averaging 1.8 per game.
 
Enter the Cardinal
Junior Rob Lee Jr. led Lamar with 24 points at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It was the 10th time this season Lee has hit the 20-point plateau. A strong candidate for league newcomer of the year honors, he currently leads the team and is sixth in the conference averaging 16.5 points 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 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 also a member of the Cardinals Hall of Honor.