2023–24 Lamar Cardinals basketball team

2023–24 Lamar Cardinals basketball
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record19–14 (12–6 Southland)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Charles Harral (3rd season)
  • Wendell Moore (3rd season)
  • Mikhail McClean (3rd season)
Home arenaNeches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center
(Capacity: 10,080)
Seasons
2023–24 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
McNeese † 17 – 1   .944 30 – 4   .882
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 14 – 4   .778 21 – 12   .636
Nicholls 13 – 5   .722 20 – 14   .588
Lamar 12 – 6   .667 19 – 14   .576
Southeastern Louisiana 10 – 8   .556 15 – 17   .469
Northwestern State 7 – 11   .389 9 – 23   .281
Texas A&M–Commerce* 6 – 12   .333 13 – 20   .394
New Orleans 4 – 14   .222 10 – 23   .303
Houston Christian 4 – 14   .222 6 – 23   .207
Incarnate Word 3 – 15   .167 8 – 23   .258
* ineligible for the 2024 NCAA tournament due to transition period
† 2024 Southland tournament winner

The 2023–24 Lamar Cardinals basketball team represented Lamar University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals were led by third-year head coach Alvin Brooks and played their home games at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center in Beaumont, Texas. They finished the season 19–14 overall and 12–6 in Southland Conference play for a fourth-place conference finish. As the fourth-seeded team, the Cardinals were 1–1 in the SLC tournament defeating eighth-seeded New Orleans 71–57[1] and losing to top-seeded McNeese 57–76 in the semifinal round.[2]


Previous season

The Cardinals finished the 2022–23 season 9–22 overall and 5–13 in Southland Conference play to finish last in conference. The Cardinals failed to qualify for the SLC tournament.[3]

Offseason

Incoming transfers

Lamar incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Ja'Sean Jackson 11 G 6'0" 170 Junior San Antonio, TX Abilene Christian
B.B. Knight 8 G 6'6" 189 Sophomore Katy, TX Tulsa
Errol White 10 F 6'7" 205 Junior Queens, NY Eastern New Mexico

Source:[4]

Incoming recruits

Lamar incoming recruits
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Jayden Barrs 2 G 6'1" 190 Freshman Manor, TX Manor High School
Aleksa Lekic 15 C 6'10" 195 Freshman Montenegro KK Buducnost VOLI
Javon Murray 33 F 6'4" 225 Freshman League City, TX Clear Falls High School

Source:[4][5]

Preseason polls

Southland Conference Poll

The Southland Conference released its preseason poll on October 10, 2023. Receiving 45 votes overall, the Cardinals were picked to finish ninth in the conference.[6]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Southeastern 144 (6)
2 McNeese 142 (6)
3 New Orleans 132 (3)
4 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 124 (5)
5 Northwestern State 84
6 Nicholls 71
7 Texas A&M–Commerce 66
8 Houston Christian 50
9 Lamar 45
10 Incarnate Word 42

Preseason All Conference

No Cardinals were selected as members of a preseason all-conference team.[6]

Roster

2023–24 Lamar Cardinals men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
F 0 Cody Pennebaker 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 187 lb (85 kg) So Beaumont, TX
G 1 Brian Gordon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 193 lb (88 kg) So Houston, TX
G 2 Jayden Barrs 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Manor, TX
G 3 Jakevion Buckley 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 162 lb (73 kg) Jr Shelbyville, TX
G 4 Chris Pryor 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 152 lb (69 kg) Sr Desoto, TX
F 5 Terry Anderson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Deer Park, TX
G 8 BB Knight 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 189 lb (86 kg) So Katy, TX
F 10 Errol White 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Queens, NY
F 11 Ja'Sean Jackson 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Jr San Antonio, TX
C 12 Valentin Catt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 232 lb (105 kg) Jr Orangefield, TX
C 15 Aleksa Lekic 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
—
 Fr Montenegro
C 20 Adam Hamilton 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Buckeye, AZ
G 23 Max Pearcy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Woodbine, MD
F 32 Janko Bulajic 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Nikšić, Montenegro
F 33 Javon Murray 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr League City, TX
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 16, 2023

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 1, 2023*
7:00 p.m., – 		St. Thomas (TX) W 71–70 OT –
    –       –       –    Neches Arena 
Beaumont, TX
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Jarvis Christian W 114–66  1–0
  19 – B.B. Knight   9 – tied (2)   5 – T. Anderson  Neches Arena (1,617)
Beaumont, TX
November 9, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at SMU L 67–78  1–1
  13 – C. Pennebaker   7 – C. Pennebaker   3 – tied (4)  Moody Coliseum (4,057)
Dallas, TX
November 14, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		UTSA W 90–82  2–1
  20 – T. Anderson   14 – A. Hamilton   5 – J. Jackson  Neches Arena (3,264)
Beaumont, TX
November 18, 2023*
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Pacific L 76–77  2–2
  22 – C. Pennebaker   12 – A. Hamilton   4 – tied (3)  Alex G. Spanos Center (391)
Stockton, CA
November 24, 2023
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		vs. Bethune–Cookman
Longwood MTE 		W 83–65  3–2
  19 – C. Pryor   11 – T. Anderson   3 – C. Pryor  Joan Perry Brock Center (205)
Farmville, VA
November 25, 2023
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Longwood
Longwood MTE 		L 72–83  3–3
  21 – B. Knight   9 – J. Bulajic   4 – J. Buckley  Joan Perry Brock Center (100)
Farmville, VA
November 26, 2023
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Delaware State
Longwood MTE 		W 84–81 OT 4–3
  18 – T. Anderson   10 – A. Hamilton   4 – A. Hamilron  Joan Perry Brock Center (427)
Farmville, VA
November 30, 2023*
8:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at UTSA L 83–86  4–4
  17 – T. Anderson   10 – A. Hamilton   4 – C. Pryor  Convocation Center (1,535)
San Antonio, TX
December 3, 2023*
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Sam Houston L 70–90  4–5
  13 – A. Hamilton   6 – J. Bulajic   5 – C. Pryor  Bernard Johnson Coliseum (794)
Huntsville, TX
December 14, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Louisiana–Monroe W 97–73  5–5
  19 – B. Knight   8 – C. Pryor   6 – C. Pryor  Neches Arena (1,014)
Beaumont, TX
December 18, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southern Miss L 79–82  5–6
  16 – tied (2)   7 – A. Hamilton   7 – J. Buckley  Neches Arena (1,122)
Beaumont, TX
December 21, 2023*
8:00 p.m., SECN 		at LSU L 66–87  5–7
  14 – J. Jackson   7 – A. Hamilton   3 – C. Pryor  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (7,388)
Baton Rouge, LA
December 30, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Paul Quinn W 91–64  6–7
  15 – tied (2)   12 – J. Bulajic   5 – J. Buckley  Neches Arena (1,233)
Beaumont, TX
Southland regular season
January 6, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Northwestern State W 90–70  7–7
(1–0) 		 18 – A. Hamilton   12 – A. Hamilton   7 – C. Pryor  Neches Arena (2,768)
Beaumont, TX
January 8, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Incarnate Word W 75–59  8–7
(2–0) 		 19 – B. Knight   9 – A. Hamilton   5 – T. Anderson  Neches Arena (781)
Beaumont, TX
January 13, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Nicholls W 78–76 OT 9–7
(3–0) 		 25 – T. Anderson   6 – C. Pennebaker   6 – C. Pryor  Stopher Gymnasium (800)
Thibodaux, LA
January 15, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at McNeese
Battle of the Border (rivalry) 		L 69–88  9–8
(3–1) 		 19 – C. Pryor   8 – T. Anderson   4 – C. Pryor  The Legacy Center (3,487)
Lake Charles, LA
January 20, 2024
3:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Houston Christian L 77–78  9–9
(3–2) 		 18 – C. Pryor   8 – A. Hamilton   5 – T. Anderson  Sharp Gymnasium (500)
Houston, TX
January 22, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Texas A&M–Commerce W 76–65  10–9
(4–2) 		 18 – 2 tied   14 – T. Anderson   3 – 2 tied  Neches Arena (1,454)
Beaumont, TX
January 27, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southeastern Louisiana W 74–64  11–9
(5–2) 		 17 – C. Pryor   7 – A. Hamilton   4 – T. Anderson  Neches Arena (2,433)
Beaumont, TX
January 29, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		New Orleans W 98–73  12–9
(6–2) 		 23 – B. Knight   9 – E. White   6 – C. Pryor  Neches Arena (1,243)
Beaumont, TX
February 3, 2024
3:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi L 71–79  12–10
(6–3) 		 20 – T. Anderson   11 – T. Anderson   2 – T. Anderson  American Bank Center (2,465)
Corpus Christi, TX
February 10, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Nicholls W 75–56  13–10
(7–3) 		 15 – J. Buckley   8 – A. Hamilton   7 – J. Buckley  Neches Arena (2,353)
Beaumont, TX
February 12, 2024
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Incarnate Word L 67–76  13–11
(7–4) 		 22 – T. Anderson   9 – E White   4 – J. Buckley  McDermott Center (204)
San Antonio, TX
February 17, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at New Orleans W 94–72  14–11
(8–4) 		 17 – A. Hamilton   10 – T. Anderson   10 – C. Pryor  Lakefront Arena (792)
New Orleans, LA
February 19, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southeastern Louisiana W 77–72 OT 15–11
(9–4) 		 19 – T. Anderson   9 – T. Anderson   7 – T. Anderson  Pride Roofing University Center (528)
Hammond, LA
February 24, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Texas A&M–Corpus Christi L 61–75  15–12
(9–5) 		 15 – J. Buckley   9 – T. Anderson   2 – T. Buckley  Neches Arena (3,176)
Beaumont, TX
February 26, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		McNeese
Battle of the Border (rivalry) 		L 56–58  15–13
(9–6) 		 10 – A. Hamilton   13 – A. Hamilton   4 – J. Buckley  Neches Arena (3,844)
Beaumont, TX
March 2, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Northwestern State W 82–77 OT 16–13
(10–6) 		 19 – B. Knight   10 – A. Hamilton   7 – C. Pryor  Prather Coliseum (1,127)
Natchitoches, LA
March 4, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Texas A&M–Commerce W 70–53  17–13
(11–6) 		 19 – B.B. Knight   11 – T. Anderson   7 – T. Anderson  The Field House (329)
Commerce, TX
March 6, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Houston Christian W 78–68  18–13
(12–6) 		 21 – T. Anderson   9 – A. Hamilton   3 – tied (2)  Neches Arena (1,559)
Beaumont, TX
Southland tournament
March 11, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(4) vs. (8) New Orleans
Second round 		W 71–57  19–13
  20 – T. Anderson   8 – T. Anderson   8 – C. Pryor  The Legacy Center 
Lake Charles, LA
March 12, 2024
5:30 p.m., ESPNU 		(4) at (1) McNeese
Semifinals 		L 57–76  19–14
  16 – T. Anderson   9 – E. White   2 – tied (5)  The Legacy Center (4,200)
Lake Charles, LA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central.

Source:[7][8]

Conference awards and honors

Weekly awards

Weekly honors
Honors Player Position Date awarded Ref.
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week Adam Hamilton C November 20, 2023 [9]
SLC Men's Basketball Player of the Week Terry Anderson F March 8, 2024 [10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Goss, Anthony (March 11, 2024). "No. 4 Lamar bottles up No. 8 New Orleans, advances to semifinals at 2024 Jersey Mike's Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament presented by Explore Louisiana". Southland Conference. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  2. ^ Goss, Anthony (March 12, 2024). "Wells pours in 27 points, No. 1 McNeese handles No. 4 Lamar in semifinal round of 2024 Jersey Mike's Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament presented by Explore Louisiana". Southland Conference. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Dixon, James (March 1, 2023). "Second-Half Nicholls Rally Dooms Cardinals". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Dixon, James (June 21, 2023). "Cardinals Add Four Spring Signees to Roster". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  5. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Southeastern Edges Out McNeese as Favorites in Men's Hoops Preseason Poll; Team Announced". Southland Conference. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Lamar Cardinals Schedule 2023-24". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Hill, James (November 20, 2023). "Lamar's Hamilton Named Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week". Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Hill, James (March 8, 2024). "Lamar's Anderson Named Jersey Mike's Southland Men's Basketball Player of the Week". Retrieved August 14, 2024.