Lamar Cardinals | |||
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University | Lamar University | ||
First season | 1923 | ||
Conference | Southland | ||
Location | Beaumont, TX | ||
Head coach | Tic Price (3rd year) | ||
Arena |
Montagne Center (Capacity: 10,080) |
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Nickname | Cardinals | ||
Student section | The Flock | ||
Colors | Red and White |
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Uniforms | |||
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NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
1980 | |||
NCAA Tournament Round of 32 | |||
1979, 1980, 1981, 1983 | |||
NCAA Tournament appearances | |||
1960*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1966*, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 2000, 2012 | |||
Conference tournament champions | |||
1981, 1983, 2000, 2012 | |||
Conference regular season champions | |||
1961*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2008 T *at Division II level |
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Conference division season champions | |||
Southland: 2008, 2012 (East) |
The Lamar Cardinals basketball team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cardinals compete in the Southland Conference and have played home games in the Montagne Center since 1984. The Lamar University basketball team is one of the school's most storied athletic programs. The Cardinals have competed in NCAA Tournament play eleven times (five at the NCAA College Division (Division II) level and six times at the NCAA Division I level with the most recent appearance in the 2012 tournament. The 1979–80 team was one of the 1980 tournament's Sweet Sixteen teams. The Cardinals have also competed in four NIT tournaments. Heading into the 2014–2015 season Lamar had a 284–143 record in the Montagne Center. The Cardinals overall record going into the 2014–2015 season was 922–818.
Basketball began in 1923 with the founding of South Park Junior College (renamed Lamar in 1932). In the early years the squad was hurt by a lack of common opponents and routinely had to play local high schools or city amateur teams. By 1931 the squad had been reduced to an intramural level. In 1946 the program was revived as Lamar entered the Southwestern Junior College Conference. The revived squad was an immediate success finishing 2nd with a 10–4 record by head coach Dave Engman. The next year under the veteran coaching of Elbert Pickell the 1947–1948 team pulled an enormous upset by capturing the state title with a 13–3 record. The following year the Cardinals continued to prosper under head coach Thurman "Slue" Hull who complied 49–30 record at Lamar before being hired away by the University of Texas. The following year the Cardinals began their transition to play against 4 year college competition with newly hired head coach Jack Martin.
National champion Postseason invitational champion
Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion