Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – For the just the second time in the last month, the Lamar men’s basketball team will step on the court at the Montagne Center to face an opponent.

The opponent this time comes in the form of Central Arkansas. The game is a matchup of two teams in the middle of the Southland Conference standings two weeks into the season.

The Cardinals (10-6, 2-1 SLC) enter the weekend in a three-way tie for third in the conference standings just a game back of New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana in the loss column. Big Red has won two of three to open league play but is coming off a disappointing 10-point setback at New Orleans.

The Cardinals were hurt by a slow start at UNO. The Privateers hit five of their first six attempts to build a 13-2 lead. UNO pushed that lead to as many as 18 in the second half before the Cardinals made a run. The Red and White got within four points several times in the second half but could come no closer.

Central Arkansas comes to the Golden Triangle sporting a 7-9 (.438) overall record and is currently in a two-way tie for ninth in the league standings, just a game back of LU. Despite a strong showing during the non-conference portion of the schedule, the Bears come to Beaumont having dropped two straight and four of five. The Bears are coming off a six-point setback at Sam Houston State.

UCA stunned the nation after knocking off California in Berkeley last month. They also recorded a victory over Little Rock during the non-conference, but even the Bears’ losses have been impressive. UCA dropped a two-point decision at San Francisco and pushed No. 18 UCLA to overtime before dropping a five-point decision to the Bruins.

Fortunately, Saturday’s game will be played at the Montagne, where the Cardinals have made it very tough on opponents historically. The Cardinals are 6-1 (.857) this season and have won 18 of their past 22 games. UCA has struggled away from Conway posting a 2-8 (.200) record in away games during the 2017-18 campaign.

Saturday’s game will be a matchup of two contrasting styles – UCA’s offense versus the Cardinals’ defense. The Bears enter the showdown ranked third in the league averaging better than 81 points per game, while LU is second in the Southland holding opponents to 66.5 points per game.

The Bears’ offensive success in centered around senior Jordan Howard. Ranked among the nations’ leaders, Howard averages nearly 24 points per game, and his hitting 41 percent of three-point attempts. Howard is one of two Bears averaging in double figures (Matthieu Kamba – 12.8 ppg).

The Cardinals average 76.0 points per game led by three players in double digits. Senior Colton Weisbrod enters the week ranked among the league leaders scoring 14.8 points per game and second in the league pulling down 8.8 rebounds per game. Juniors Josh Nzeakor and Nick Garth are both averaging 11.4 points per game.

Saturday’s game takes on more meaning because it will be the lone meeting between the two schools during the regular season. The Cardinals lead the all-time series against UCA, 12-4 (.750). LU won the only meeting last season, 78-75, Conway. The two teams have split the past four meetings with all four of Central Arkansas wins coming since 2013. LU won the first 10 meetings in the series, and is 6-1 (.857) all-time against UCA in Beaumont.