Jan. 15, 2010

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All Southland TV games will be streamed live to SLC NOW, the conference's live and on-demand video and audio channel on Southland.org. All SLC NOW programming is free to anyone who registers on the site.

** Lamar returned home to the friendly confines of the Montagne Center and defeated UT Arlington for the seventh-straight time in Beaumont, 71-68, on Wednesday. Lamar has won six of its last eight games, including a 9-1 overall mark at home.

** In four seasons under coach Steve Roccaforte, Lamar is 43-11 (.796) at home overall and 18-7 (.720) in SLC home contests, including an 8-0 mark in 2007-08.

** Lamar is in the midst of a stretch where, beginning with the Louisiana College game (Dec. 9), it will play 12 of 16 games at home and 15 of its final 23 in Beaumont.

** Lamar set season-bests for points (87), field goal percentage (.538), assists (24) and fewest turnovers (8) in the 19-point win over Arkansas State (1/4) - its last game in Beaumont.

** Lamar is 7-2 this season when scoring at least 74 points, 8-1 when leading at the half, 8-1 when shooting better from the floor and 9-1 when blocking more shots than the opposition.

** Lamar's defense had held its last seven of its last eight opponents under 70 points. Prior to the SE La. game, the Cards had limited six-straight teams to less than 70 points, marking the first time that had been accomplished since the 2002-03 season when Mike Deane's team limited nine-straight teams to less than 70 during a stretch in SLC play.

** The first 250 fans through the turnstiles will receive a free red t-shirt compliments of Five Point Credit Union. Fans are encouraged to wear red and "Red Out" the Montagne Center.

** In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Lamar athletic department is asking fans at the game to join the relief effort by texting "Haiti" to 90999, which will donate $10 to the American Red Cross' relief efforts. Additional information can be found on the Internet at redcross.org.

Key Player Updates

Anthony Miles - G Leads the team in scoring (13.6), assists (3.7), steals (1.3), minutes (34.0), 3-point FG pct. (.413), 3-pointers made (1.1), 3-pointers attempted (2.7), FT made (4.2) and FT attempts (5.6). He is the only player in the SLC to rank among the top 11 in scoring and assists, while also appearing among the leaders in FT pct. and minutes.

Has scored in double figures 12 times and had a streak of nine-straight snapped against Arkansas State (three games ago). Has scored just 16 points in the last three games, shooting 4-19 overall and 0-4 from 3-pt range. He did have five assists and just one turnover vs. UTA. Also has three double-doubles this year and five in his career.

Justin Nabors - F Leads the SLC and ranks t-22nd in the NCAA in rebounds (10.1), FG pct. (.500), FG made (4.9), FG attempts (9.9), while ranking second in scoring (13.0) and blocked shots (0.9). Has scored in double figures 12 times, nine-straight and 11 of the last 13. Shooting .550 (33-60) over the last six games with four of his SLC-leading eight double-doubles in the last four games. He is one of 24 players in the country averaging a double-double.

Kendrick Harris - G Third on the team in scoring (11.6), second in assists (2.6), steals (1.1) and minutes (31.6). He has produced 10 double-figure scoring games, including four-straight with season-highs of 24 against UTPA and 21 at Hawaii earlier in the year. Handed out a career-high seven assists against Arkansas State, which was followed by games of five and four in Lamar's two SLC contests.

Charlie Harper - F Fourth on the team in scoring (10.2), second in rebounds (8.2) and third in FG pct. (.455). Ranks fifth in the SLC in rebs and second in defensive rpg (5.9), while producing two double-doubles. He has scored just 11 points in the last two games following a career-high 23 against Arkansas State. Also has nine double-figure scoring games and five double-figure rebound games, including 11 against UTA on Wednesday.

Series History

Lamar and McNeese State are meeting for the 87th time today. The Cardinals hold a 47-39 all-time series advantage in the most-played rivalry in LU history.

LU is 32-10 in games played in Beaumont, 14-29 in Lake Charles and 1-0 on a neutral court. The home team has won the last six games and 61 all-time - a 72 percent success rate.

McNeese has won 11 of the last 15 meetings in the series, including seven of the last 10. Since returning to the SLC, Lamar is 6-14 vs. McNeese, 6-3 in Beaumont and 0-11 in Lake Charles.

The Cards will face their five most-played rivals this season, and seven of their top eight. They have already faced Louisiana for the 80th time and Arkansas State for the 78th time, to go along with this week's contests against UTA (72nd) and McNeese (87th) during Southland Conference play.

About McNeese State

McNeese State ventures west across the Sabine River for today's game with a 5-10 record and is 0-1 in Southland Conference action following a 78-69 home loss to UTSA last Saturday in the opening game of the league slate. The Roadrunners made 8-of-9 3-pointers in the second half to outscore the Pokes 50-37 after the half.

The Cowboys have lost four-straight and are 1-7 on the road this season, with their lone victory coming at Tulane on Dec. 16.

Diego Kapelan leads the team in scoring with a 13.3 average and has made 49 3-pointers this season, a figure that ranks 15th in the nation. That accounts for 45 percent of the team's 109 makes in 15 games. Their 7.3 treys per game are fourth in the SLC.

Patrick Richard is averaging 12.5 points per game and is handing out 3.0 assists per contest. P.J. Alawoya leads the team in rebounding with 7.3 rpg. Dontae Cannon leads the squad in field goal percentage, firing at a .676 clip, just ahead of Will Morning's .621 pct.

McNeese averages 67.5 ppg as a team and ranks 10th in the SLC in scoring margin. Their .613 free throw percentage is tied for last in the league as well.

Dave Simmons is in his fourth season as the head coach and has a 44-61 record in Lake Charles. He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern State where he was part of the Demons' back-to-back SLC titles in 2005 and 2006. Simmons was a four-year letterman at Louisiana Tech where he scored 1,563 points and was a three-time all-SLC selection. Lamar-McNeese Statistical Comparison

Lamar In The NCAA Stats

In the most recent NCAA statistics that were released on Monday, Lamar is ranked in the top half of the country in four team categories. LU is 24th in rebound margin (+7.3), 101st in blocked shots (4.0), 141st in assists (13.8) and 153rd in free throw pct. (69.2).

Individually, Justin Nabors is 25th in rebounds (9.9) and 96th in field goal pct. (50.6), Charlie Harper is 111th in rebounding (8.0), Coy Custer is 123rd in blocked shots (1.5) and Anthony Miles is 224th in assists (3.5).