Aaron Saenz UP sports editor
While students were home for the holidays, Cardinal athletes were competing hard in their respective sports. From new seasons beginning to the Cards being on national television, there was a bit of everything.
Men’s Basketball
The Lamar men’s basketball team had a nationally televised game on CBS against McNeese on New Year’s Day. The Cards lost the game to the Cowboys, but were able to showcase their talent to the nation. This won’t be the only time the Cards will be on CBS, as their Feb. 23 game against Nicholls will also be aired nationally. Junior Rob Lee Jr. was named Southland Conference Player of the Week for Jan 11-18 after averaging 25.5 points and 6.0 rebounds. He also scored a career-high of 31 points against Houston Christian.
The Cardinals had their rematch against the Cowboys, Jan. 31. The game ended in heartbreaking fashion, with the final score being 64-63 in favor of McNeese. Despite the loss, Lee Jr. finished the game with 25 points and sophomore Braden East finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, his fourth consecutive game with a double-double.
The Cardinals are 11-11 overall, 6-7 SLC.
Women’s Basketball
The Lady Cards basketball team’s seven-game winning streak came to an end after their matchup against McNeese, Jan. 31. The final score was 64-52. Three different Cardinals scored in double figures, but the 22-point halftime deficit was too much to overcome. The Lady Cards play again on Thursday against Northwestern State at home.
The Cardinals are 13-7 overall and 10-3 in conference.
Track and Field
The Lamar track and field indoor season is in full swing, as they have competed in three meets in Houston and Albuquerque, New Mexico, with their most recent being the Robert Platt Invitational in Houston, Jan. 30-31. Sophomore John Sanderson broke his own 60 meter-hurdles school record twice. He first set it in the semifinals with a 7.91, then came back for the finals and ran a 7.86, good for second place. Both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams finished in third.
Softball
The Lady Cards softball season begins at the LSU Tiger Classic, Thursday. The three-day tournament features matchups against power four teams like NC State, Illinois, and LSU, along with a match against Nevada.
Baseball
The Lamar baseball team opens their season on Feb. 13 with a three-game homestand against Oakland. The team recently hired Jace Hutchins as the new pitching coach. Hutchins started off his coaching career as a student assistant with the Texas A&M Aggies before working his way up all the way to the big leagues.
Prior to taking the Lamar job, he was a pitching development coach with the Chicago Cubs.
Men’s Tennis
LU sophomore transfer Maxwell Lindstedt picked up two wins in the second match of a doubleheader, and three wins on the day, as Lamar University recorded a split against nationally ranked Lubbock Christian Sunday at the Thompson Family Tennis Center.
The Cardinals dropped the morning match, 4-3, to the Chapparals but rallied right back to take the nightcap by the same score.
Women’s Tennis
Lamar University pushed its win streak to four Sunday after sweeping a doubleheader against Lubbock Christian. The Cardinals won both matches by identical 4-1 scores.
