Dec. 5, 2008
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Lamar will look to erase the bad taste of its first loss of the season when it opens play at the Marques Maybin Classic against Ohio in Louisville on Saturday afternoon.
Following the Ohio game, LU will face Indiana State and Louisville Sunday and Monday. Wednesday's opponent (Kentucky) and UL were NCAA Tournament teams while Ohio participated in the inaugural CBI Tournament.
About Ohio
Ohio is 3-1 on the season with home wins over William & Mary and Tulsa, a road win over Austin Peay and a road loss to George Mason. The Bobcats scored at least 74 points in each of their victories, while being held to 65 at GMU.
Without a doubt the Bobcats have been a second-half team, outscoring their opponents 179-134 in the second 20 minutes this season. That equates to a plus-11.3 ppg average. Ohio has shot a solid 44.1 percent from the floor but the number is 48.2 pct. after the break.
Jerome Tillman has scored at least 19 points in every game this season and leads the team in scoring (20.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.5 rpg). He has also posted a double-double in three of the four games.
Series History with Ohio
Lamar and Ohio have never played each other on the hardwood. Ohio has never faced a Southland team in men's basketball and Lamar is 8-7 all-time against the MAC including last season's loss at Northern Illinois.
Series with Indiana State
Lamar is 1-1 against Indiana State. LU won 93-78 in Carbondale, Ill.at the 1966 NCAA College Division Tournament before losing a year later in Terre Haute, Indi. 105-93. The Cards are a combined 6-15 all-time against Missouri Valley teams.
Series with Louisville
Lamar is 0-2 against Louisville. LU lost 90-68 in the inaugural Great Alaska Shootout in 1978 and 85-60 in 1983 in Louisville. LU is also 2-6 overall against current Big East schools.
Regular-season tournaments
Lamar is participating in its 46th regular-season tournament in school history and has a 48-53 record with 11 titles, including 2 in 3-game events. Lamar's last regular-season tourney crown came in Dec. 1990 at the Texaco Star Classic, with wins over Denver and host San Diego State. Recent results include 1-2 at the Shelby Metcalf Classic in College Station in 2006, 1-2 at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2004, 0-3 at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu in 2003, 1-1 at the Spartan Classic in East Lansing, Mich. in 2001.
LU On A Neutral Court
Lamar is 2-3 on neutral floors under Steve Roccaforte. The Cardinals lost their only neutral meeting last year in the first round of the SLC Tournament and were 2-2 in his first season, which included a 1-1 mark against Saint Louis and Louisiana Tech at the Shelby Metcalf Classic in College Station.
About the event
The event is named for Marques Maybin, Lousville's No. 13 all-time scorer who was paralyzed from the waist down in a motorcycle accident on Aug. 5, 2003. He is currently enrolled at U of L to complete his degree requirements. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be earmarked for the Marques Maybin Medical Fund.
Maybin led the Cardinals in scoring in his final two years at U of L, including averaging 17.7 points as a senior during the 2000-01 season. He completed his career with 1,624 career points while playing at U of L from 1997-2001, ranking 13th all-time at Louisville and eighth in Conference USA history. His career 156-three point goals is seventh all-time for the Cardinals and he is sixth in career dunks with 95.
National Exposure
Saturday's game offers Lamar the opportunity to play before a national audience for the second time in six days. The game with Louisville on Monday night will be carried WHAS-TV in Louisville, while also available to subscribers of ESPN Full Court and globally on ESPN360.com.
This is the second of five opportunities for the Cardinals to appear before the entire nation. Wednesday's game at Kentucky was carried on FSN South and on ESPN Full Court and ESPN360.com, Lamar's Jan. 3 game at Memphis will be on CSS, the Feb. 14 home game with Texas State will be on ESPNU and the Feb. 21 Homecoming game with Northwestern State is slated for the Southland TV Network, which is also picked up by Fox College Sports.
Lamar Ranked In Mid-Major Poll
Lamar is ranked in the latest College Insider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, tied for 23rd with Portland State. Southland Conference member Stephen F. Austin is ranked 12th. LU and SFA shared the SLC regular-season crown last season.
LU In The NCAA Stats
In the first edition of the NCAA Statistics released on Monday, Lamar is ranked 14th in both scoring margin and rebound margin, 37th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 38th in scoring, 38th in steals per game and 38th in fewest turnovers per game.
Individually, Kenny Dawkins is ranked 32nd in FT Pct and 40 in steals per game; Jay Brown is ranked 42nd in rebounds per game and 68th in FG Pct.; Brandon McThay is ranked 94th in FG Pct.
