STOCKTON, Calif - After splitting two road games, the Pacific men's basketball team (1-2) returns to action at the Alex G. Spanos Center on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m as the Tigers host Lamar (2-1). Pacific is 3-0 over the Cardinals in its most recent history, as the two teams share their second home-away series since 2002.
Pacific last beat Lamar at home 73-69 in overtime when the Cardinals visited in the 2002-03 season. The Tigers traveled to Texas the following year, earning the 73-71 win on the road. The two teams went twenty years between contests, finally revisiting one another at the start of last year's season. Pacific defeated the Cardinals 74-65 in Beaumont.
Lamar has gotten off to a 2-1 start this season, coming off a win against UTSA. They've averaged 90.3 points off a .410 three-point shooting percentage and .363 field goal percentage. They've outrebounded their opponents by a 10.4 margin as they average 50.7 rebounds a game as a team.
Five Cardinals are averaging double-digit scoring a game this year. Sophomore guard B.B. Knight leads them all with 14.3 points per game, shooting 40.6 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three. Rounding out the main scorers from Lamar is junior forward Terry Anderson (13.3 PPG), junior guard Ja'sean Jackson (11.7 PPG), junior guard Jakevion Buckley (11.3 PPG) and senior center Adam Hamilton (11.0 PPG).
Hamilton, the Cardinals' 6-9 center, has averaged 8.0 rebounds a game, after hauling in 14 in their game against UTSA. Anderson went for a season-high 20 points over the Roadrunners, while collecting 11 rebounds of his own for a double-double.
The Tigers are led by senior guard
Donovan Williams. He's averaged 12.7 PPG, shooting 44.8 percent from the floor through his first three games. Senior forward
Judson Martindale adds 9.7 PPG, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor coming off the Pacific bench. Sophomore guard
Moe Odum leads both teams in average assists, dishing out 4.0 APG.
Pacific has averaged 6.7 steals and 31.0 rebounds a game through its 2023-24 start, as its defense remains one of its strongest pillars. The Tigers have been holding their opponents to a .254 three-point percentage, only allowing their opponents five makes a game from beyond the arc.
The Tigers defense will be put to the test as they take on an opponent that is persistent at going after every ball. The Cardinals are coming off a game with 25 offensive boards, as they are meticulous about giving themselves greater scoring opportunities.
Pacific hosts Lamar on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Alex G. Spanos Center for a 2 p.m. tip. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+.
