BEAUMONT, Texas – With eight games remaining in the regular season, the importance of each contest takes on even more weight, a statement that is never truer that Saturday. The Cardinals will make the short trip north to Nacogdoches to face Southland Conference leading Stephen F. Austin (5 p.m.) at the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
 
The goal is simple – go 1-0 Saturday, but that is quite simply easier said than done – and it has been for everyone in the league when facing SFA this season. The Lumberjacks stormed out of the gates this year and have not looked back. SFA is 20-3 (.870) overall and lead the league (by 2.0 games) with a 13-1 record.
 
Lamar will head to Nacogdoches alone in seventh place in the standings but is in a position where they can still make a surge in the standings. The Cardinals (12-11/7-7 SLC) are just a game out of fourth and just 2.0 games back of third-place Nicholls (who they have already defeated in Thibodaux this season and still have another game against the Colonels remaining). In fact, Lamar still has games remaining against the next four teams ahead of them after Saturday's contest.
 
The Cardinals also hold a 2.0 game lead over the eighth and final playoff spot in the standings which is currently held by UIW.
 
Saturday's contest will tip off at 6 p.m. from the Johnson Coliseum. It will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.
 

LU vs. the Lumberjacks
The series between Lamar University and Stephen F. Austin dates back to the 1951-52 season. Lamar trails the all-time series to SFA, 42-31 (.425), but that record drops to 11-23 (.458) in Nacogdoches. The Lumberjacks have won four of the past five meetings including a seven-point win in Beaumont earlier this year. The two teams split the season series last year.
 
A bEAST on the Boards
Sophomore Braden East has dominated the glass during his sophomore season. He pulled down 11 rebounds in the win over Southeastern Louisiana Monday to secure his fifth consecutive double-double. He has recorded double-figure rebounds in 12 games this year. He currently leads the Southland averaging 9.0 rebounds per game and is second in the league averaging 3.0 offensive rebounds per game.
 
Double-Double Vision
Sophomore Braden East recorded his 10th double-double of the season Monday in the victory over Southeastern Louisiana. East currently leads the Southland Conference and is ranked 19th nationally in the stat.
 
Enter the Cardinal
Junior Rob Lee Jr. has been on a tear recently for the Cardinals. Over the course of team's past seven games, he is averaging 18.6 points per game. During that stretch he has reached at least 20 points five times with a career high of 31 and is coming off a 28-point outing versus Southeastern Louisiana. He is currently tied for fifth in the conference in scoring but tied for first in the league in conference only contests.
 
Beaumont Block Party
Senior Andrew Holifield continues to be one of the most dominating defensive players in the Southland Conference. He is currently third in the league averaging 1.9 blocks per game. He has blocked at least three shots in a game eight times this season. The Beaumont native is fifth all-time in school history and needs only two more swats to reach 100 for his career.
 
Breaking Out
Senior Cody Pennebaker broke out of a minor slump Monday when he struck for 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the win over Southeastern Louisiana. It marks the first time he had reached double-digits in the team's past four games.
 
Cleaning the Glass
Monday marked the 17th time that Lamar has beat an opponent on the glass this season. The Cardinals are currently second in the league in rebounds (38.0 rpg), tied for first in offensive rebounds (13.3) and second in rebound margin (+5.2).