Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT — Lamar will look to get back on the win track Saturday afternoon, but it will have to be done against one of the top teams in the Southland Conference as Stephen F. Austin comes to town. The Cardinals enter the weekend showdown with a 13-10 (.565) overall record and eighth in the Southland Conference with a 5-5 (.500) conference record, while SFA comes to Beaumont with an 18-4 (.818) overall mark and second in the Southland with a 7-2 league record.

The Cardinals are just a game out of sixth place in the standings as Abilene Christian and Central Arkansas are tied for sixth at 6-4 (.600). The unfortunate thing is LU has already lost to both teams, and will only play them once this season.

The Lumberjacks are a game back of New Orleans in the standings, but the two schools are tied in the loss column (UNO has played two more games to this point in the season).

Big Red wants to get back on the court to eliminate the bitter taste leftover from a Wednesday’s disappointing performance at Abilene Christian. The Cardinals dropped a 74-69 decision to the Wildcats to fall a game back in the standings. LU led for more than 18 minutes in the first half but never saw the lead in the second has they shot 35 percent from the field.

In that contest, ACU was able to do something that few other teams have come close to achieving which is slowing down senior Colton Weisbrod. The Nederland native finished the day with a season-low four points. It was just the fourth time this season that Weisbrod did not reach double figures.

The Cardinals also step on the court looking to put a stop to a minor skid having dropped two of their past three games, but Saturday’s contest will be in front of the Red and White faithful where the Cardinals are 8-4 (.667) this season. The Cardinals are 323-161 (.667) all-time in the Montagne Center.

The Lumberjacks head to the Golden Triangle looking for their third consecutive victory. Winners in seven of their last eight games, the Jacks are coming off a 20-point victory over Houston Baptist Wednesday.

If any chink in the SFA armor exists, it may come from the fact that Saturday’s game will be played in Beaumont. All four of SFA’s losses this season have come on the road (5-4, .556).

The Cardinals trail the all-time series against Stephen F. Austin, 35-25 (.417). The Jacks swept the season series last year, which included a third game in the Southland Conference championships.

Big Red steps on the court Saturday looking to stop a 10-game slide in the series which dates back to the 2012 Southland Conference championships. The Cards are 16-14 (.533) all-time against SFA in Beaumont.

The Lumberjacks are outscoring opponents by 13 points per game, 82-69, on the season and hold a 35-31 advantage on the boards. SFA has three players in double figures led by Kevon Harris (16.1 points per game). Big Red is outscoring opponents by 7.0 per game, and holds a 38-36 edge on the glass.

Saturday’s game will tip off at 4:30 p.m. from the Montagne Center. It can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI, and viewed on ESPN3.