March 12, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
From 1-5 To Southland Co-Champs
Lamar opened the 2007-08 season with a 1-5 record before hitting its stride with the New Year. The Cards were 5-6 and dropped a 79-77 decision at Texas Tech in a game that second-year coach Steve Roccaforte has said was the turning point to the season. From there Lamar won its next two at home, including the SLC-opener over UTSA, then lost by six at Stephen F. Austin before reeling off 11-consecutive victories. That stretch is the fourth-longest in school history and the longest by any SLC school this year. It was also the fourth-longest in the nation before ending at McNeese State, 74-71, on March 1. The Cards then split their final two games, defeating Nicholls State on Senior Night and losing at SE Louisiana in the regular-season finale last Saturday.
Lamar In The Southland Tournament
** Lamar is making its 14th SLC Tournament appearance with a 16-10 (.615) all-time record. LU is 19-21 (.475) all-time on conference tourney play in 24 previous events
** The Cardinals have won three SLC titles - 1981, 1983 and 2000 - and have runner-up finishes in 1984 and 1985. Only former members La.-Monroe (6) and La. Tech (3) can match Lamar's three titles
** Lamar has advanced to the SLC semifinals 12 times, including each of the last three years
Lamar Claims Share of First Regular-Season Conference Title Since 1984
By virtue of its win over Nicholls State last Thursday, Lamar clinched a share of the Southland Conference regular-season championship, marking its first since the 1983-84 season. Lamar has now won 12 conference championships in 57 seasons.
A Win Today Would...
** Give Lamar 20 wins for the first time since 1987-88 and the 12th time in school history
** Move the Cardinals into the SLC Semifinals for the fourth-consecutive year (but they won't have to play NW State for a fourth time)
13 Conference Victories Ties School Record
With Thursday's win over Nicholls State, Lamar won its 13th conference victory and tied the school-record held by the 1961-62 team that went 13-1 in the Lone Star Conference.
Roc Wins League Title in Second Season; Ties Tubbs For Second-Fastest In Lamar History
When Lamar clinched a share of the SLC regular-season title on Thursday, it gave coach Steve Roccaforte his first title in his second year as the head man in Beaumont. Only Pat Foster - who won his first title in his first season - won a championship sooner. Of the three other Cardinal coaches to lead their teams to titles, Foster did it in his first season, Billy Tubbs did it in his second season and Jack Martin accomplished the feat in his 10th year.
One Win Away From 20-Win Season
A win on Wednesday would give Lamar its 12th 20-win season in school history and its first since 1987-88. Of the 11 previous 20-win teams, eight got their 20th by the end of the regular-season.
2007-08 Home Slate Produces Record Win Totals
Lamar completed its home season with a 14-2 record and a 13-game winning streak. The 14 wins are tied for the second-most in a season at Lamar and the second-most in the 24-year history of the Montagne Center. Lamar is now 25-5 (.833) under coach Roccaforte.
Lamar Finishes SLC Home Schedule 8-0
Lamar was the only Southland school to go undefeated at home in league games this season. The Cardinals' 8-0 mark was the first in the league since NW State went 8-0 two years ago. In the last five seasons only four teams have held serve at home - Lamar in 2008, NWLA in 2006, and SELA and SFA in 2004.
Lamar-Texas-Arlington Series History
This will be the 69th meeting between Lamar and UTA with the Cardinals holding a 50-18 all-time series advantage. Lamar is 28-5 in games played in Beaumont, 21-12 in Arlington and 1-1 on a neutral court. UTA won last year's only meeting, 76-74, in Arlington, while LU won this year's Valentine's Day contest 80-66. Since returning to the SLC, Lamar is 9-7 vs. UTA.
Lamar-UTA SLC Tournament History
Lamar and UTA have split the only two previous meetings that came in the Southland Conference Tournament. UTA won 78-73 in the semifinals in 1982 in Lafayette and Lamar won 98-70 in the first round in 1985 in Ruston.
Scouting Texas-Arlington
Texas-Arlington enters the SLC Tournament as the No. 7 seed and has a 18-11 overall record and tied for third in the West Division with a 7-9 mark. The Mavericks have gone 2-4 since losing to Lamar in Beaumont on Feb. 14, but did claim the only win at SFA this season with a 75-65 win the same day Lamar fell at McNeese State.
Three different active players average between 12 and 13 points per game. Anthony Vereen leads the team with a 12.9 ppg average, followed by Rog'er Guignard at 12.7 and Jermaine Griffin at 12.3. Guignard has made a team-high 85 3-pointers, while Griffin leads the team and ranks fourth in the league with 7.4 rebounds per game. Additionally, he has six double-doubles are tied for third in the league and .642 FG pct leads the SLC.
As a team, UTA averages 73.2 ppg while limiting its opponents to 67.8 ppg. They also lead the league in FG pct. (.476) and are fourth in 3-point FG pct. defense (.316).
Win Streak Ends At 11 For Fourth-Longest In School History
Lamar saw its 11-game win streak come to a close at McNeese State but not before it came in as the fourth-longest in school history and fourth-longest in the NCAA at the time of conclusion. With all 11 coming in league action, it marked the longest streak during conference play in school history.
Lamar Sets School Record For Consecutive Conference Wins
By virtue of the win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the 2007-08 team set the school record for consecutive league wins at 11, previously held by Jack Martin's 1962-63 team at 10.
Fun With Numbers
** Lamar has made at least 10 3-pointers in five of its last eight games and has made at least eight treys in 12 of its last 14 games.
** Lamar is 9-1 when making at least 10 3-pointers.
** Lamar has scored at least 71 points in 19 straight games
Lamar In The NCAA Rankings
Lamar enters the SLC Tournament ranked in the top 60 in the NCAA in four categories: scoring offense-10th, 3-point field goals per game-30th, assists per game-16th and steals per game-20th. Additionally, Kenny Dawkins ranks 69th in free throw percentage at 83.5 pct., 89th in assists per game at 4.5 and 51st in steals per game at 2.0.
The Magic Number is... 70
Lamar is 18-6 this season when scoring at least 70 points and 13-2 when holding its opponents under 70. The Cardinals are now 32-12 in two seasons under coach Steve Roccaforte when reaching the 70-point plateau.
Lamar With Three In SLC Top 15 In 3-Pointers
Lamar is the only school in the SLC with three players ranking in the top 15 in 3-point field goal percentage. Currye Todd ranks first at 45.8%, Kenny Dawkins is rated third at 42.3%, and Darren Hopkins is 13th at 37.9%. Brandon McThay would rank just behind Todd with his 42.3% except he is four shy of the minimum of 1.0 made 3FG per game. As a team, the Cardinals are first at 38.6% and first in 3-pointers made per game at 8.5.
More On The 3-Ball
Since Steve Roccaforte took over at Lamar last season, the Cardinals have made 490 total 3-pointers for an average of 8.4 per game. In those 60 games, LU has made at least 10 treys 19 times, including nine this year. The season-high 17 made against Nicholls State on Thursday are the third-most in school history and tied for the most in the SLC this season. Only once in the past two seasons have the Cardinals failed to make less than four in a game (vs. NW State in the 2007 SLC Tournament).
Lamar and SFA Lead SLC In POW
Lamar has had three Southland Conference Player of the Week selections this season, placing one behind Stephen F. Austin for the most in the league. Lamar had a POW selection in three of the first five weeks that SLC play was conducted.
Checking the RPI and Sagarin Ratings
In the latest NCAA RPI Rankings, Lamar is listed at 144, while UTA is 177. Stephen F. Austin is the highest ranked SLC team at 59, followed by Sam Houston at 90 and then Lamar. In the Sagarin Ratings, Lamar is ranked 151 and UTA is 178. The SLC is rated 22nd among 31 conferences and the Pac-10 is the top-rated conference.
