Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – Lamar will have another opportunity to climb a rung of Southland Conference ladder Saturday when it faces Sam Houston State.

After putting an end to a three-game skid – which saw the Cardinals (11-8, 3-3 Southland) fall from the top of the league standings to the outside looking in (in terms of the SLC postseason tournament) – the Cardinals will look to take another step forward on Saturday.

Big Red moved into a tie for eighth place in the league standings with its road victory at Incarnate Word on Wednesday. The victory not only put an end to a three-game slide, but was the team’s first over UIW in San Antonio in school history. Not the Cardinals turn their focus to a Sam Houston squad that is one of four teams tied atop the Southland standings with only one league loss.

The Bearkats (11-8, 5-1 SLC) are officially in a three-way tie for second, just a half game back of Nicholls State for the overall lead. SHSU is currently two games up on Big Red in the league chase.

Since dropping their Southland opener at Abilene Christian on Dec. 30, the Bearkats have rattled off five-straight wins. Sam Houston is coming off an impressive victory over Northwestern State on Wednesday in Huntsville, but road games have been a different story for the Bearkats this season.

While the Bearkats have posted a near perfect record at home 2017-18, they have struggled away from Huntsville. The Bearkats enter the weekend matchup with a 2-5 (.286) road record. The Cardinals have been very strong at the Montagne Center, but have lost their past two contests and are 6-3 (.667) on the season.

The Cardinals trail the all-time series to SHSU, 30-34 (.469), and have struggled in the series lately. The Cardinals have dropped nine of the past 10 meetings but are coming off a four-point overtime victory over SHSU last season in Beaumont. The Cardinals are 20-13 (.606) all-time in games played in Beaumont.

The Cardinals are averaging nearly 77 points per game from an offense that is led by three players in double figures, and four players averaging 9.7 points or better. Senior Colton Weisbrod ranks among the league leaders in scoring and rebounds for a second consecutive season and is coming off a 26-point, nine-rebound effort at UIW on Wednesday. As a team the Cards rank among the league leaders in scoring defense (68.26 ppg).

SHSU is averaging 70.4 points per game led by Chris Galbreath’s 14.7 points per game. The Bearkats hang their hat on defense and lead the Southland surrendering less than 66 points per game to their opponents.

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