Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – Lamar steps back on the court at the Montagne Center this evening looking to put a stop to a minor two-game slide in Southland Conference play.

After winning their first two league contests, the Cardinals (10-7, 2-2 Southland) enter the week looking to get back in the win column against Southeastern Louisiana.

After winning eight of their first nine games to open the season, the Cardinals have found the going a little tougher lately having dropped four of its past six, including consecutive conference games. The two setbacks have dropped LU from the league lead into a four-way tie for sixth. The Cardinals enter the week just a game back of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State in the loss column after a heartbreaking double overtime loss to Central Arkansas. In the setback to UCA, the Cardinals were hurt by struggles at the free throw line and beyond the arc. The Red and White missed 13 free throws and converted just 4-of-31 (.129) attempts from three-point range.

Southeastern Louisiana is living up to the preseason hype through the first two weeks in the season. The Lions were picked third in a preseason poll of the league’s head coaches and media relations directors. SLU heads to Beaumont with a 9-7 (.563) overall record and is one of two remaining undefeated teams in the Southland standings (New Orleans) with a 3-0 mark.

The start of conference play is exactly what the doctor ordered for Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions had dropped three straight prior to the start of league play but they have rebounded to win the past three.

A mere glance at the overall stats would lend to a belief that tonight’s game will be another close battle on the court. The Cardinals are averaging 76.9 points per game while Southeastern Louisiana is scoring better than 72 per night. LU is holding opponents below 68 points per game, while the Lions’ defense is giving up fewer than 72 points per game.

The similarities continue between the two teams as the Cardinals are shooting just a notch above SLU through the first 17 games. LU currently ranks sixth in the league in field goal percentage, while the Lions are seventh in the Southland rankings. Both teams have had their struggles at the free throw line as well. The Cardinals are shooting 63.8 percent from the stripe while Southeastern is last in the league shooting below 63 percent.

The Cardinals are led by senior Colton Weisbrod who is coming off a career-high 38-point effort against Central Arkansas. The 38-point effort is the high-water mark within the Southland Conference this season. Weisbrod now owns the SLC’s single-game high for points and rebounds (19) in 2017-18. The Nederland native enters the showdown with Southeastern ranked among the league leaders in points (16.2 ppg) and rebounds (8.9 ppg).

The Lions have two players averaging in double figures led by Marlain Veal’s 13.0 points per game. Jordan Capps enters the week averaging better than 12 points (12.8 ppg).

The Cardinals lead the all-time series between the two schools. Big Red is 26-21 (.553) all-time against SLU. The Cardinals have won three of the past four meetings, including a 74-54 victory in Beaumont last season. The Cards are 16-8 (.667) all-time against Southeastern in Beamont.

Tonight’s game will tip off at 7 at the Montagne Center. It can also be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and seen on ESPN3.