Lamar sports information

LAS VEGAS — Lamar closes out the non-conference portion of its season, and opens the Continental Tire Las Vegas Tournament Friday against California-Davis. The game against the Aggies will be the first of two games within 24 hours for the men of Red and White – and it may be the toughest opponent the Cardinals have seen to date.

The Cardinals (8-3) enter the weekend looking to put an end to consecutive losses – the first time all season that LU has lost back-to-back games. Big Red will look to get back in the win column Friday when they step on the court to take on UC Davis. The Aggies, ranked 24th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll, enter the week with a 7-4 (.636) overall record but have dropped consecutive games to San Francisco and Nevada.

The Aggies averaged 69.7 points per game and are shooting nearly 47 percent from the field, led by Chima Moneke’s 19.0 points per game. The Aggies are also shooting 40 percent from three-point range. UC Davis will be one of the best defensive teams the Cardinals will face all season surrendering fewer than 66 points per game to opponents.

The Cards are averaging better than 77 points per game, led by four players in double figures. Senior Colton Weisbrod is averaging 14.6 points and 9.0 rebounds, while juniors Josh Nzeakor and Nick Garth are both averaging 10.9 points per game. Senior Zjori Bosha is also scoring better than 10 points per night (10.5 ppg).

Big Red is shooting better than 44 percent from the field and nearly 35 percent from beyond the arc.

Friday’s game against the Aggies will tip off at 4:30 p.m. from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. It will be the first of two games within 24 hours for the Cardinals. LU will face either Radford or North Carolina A&T (depending on the outcome of Friday’s games) Saturday afternoon.

Radford heads to Las Vegas with a 5-6 (.455) overall record, but enter its  game with North Carolina A&T having dropped two straight and three of the past four. The Highlanders are coming off an 11-point setback at San Francisco. The Highlanders will be opening with a North Carolina A&T squad that is 6-5 (.545) on the year but has dropped four of its past five games. The Aggies are coming off a 16-point setback at Duquesne on Sunday.

The Cardinals’ game Saturday will tip off at either 2 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. from the Orleans Arena. If the Cardinals win Friday they will play the late game Saturday. Both games can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI.