FACTS & STATS: Site: Marriott Center (22,700) -- Provo, Utah. Television: The Mtn. Home Record: Lamar 3-2, BYU 4-0. Away Record: Lamar 0-3, BYU 2-0. Neutral Record: Lamar 0-0, BYU 1-2. Conference Record: Lamar 0-0, BYU 0-0. Series Record: Series is tied, 1-1.

GAME NOTES: The 25th-ranked BYU Cougars open up a three-game homestand this evening, as they welcome the Lamar Cardinals to the Marriott Center for a non- conference affair. Dave Rose's Cougars began the 2007-08 season with five straight wins before losing to top-ranked North Carolina (73-63). Two wins followed that loss, but the team found itself in the loss column for the second time this season with last week's 68-61 setback to Big Ten power Michigan State. The Cardinals have lost five of their first eight games with all five losses coming in succession following a season-opening win over Letourneau University. The team has played better of late with two straight victories, including a 117-67 rout of Louisiana College last week. This is just the third all-time meeting between these two teams, with the series knotted at 1-1. Lamar evened the series with last season's 86-77 overtime win at home.

The Cardinals put up a season-high 117 points in their lopsided win over Louisiana College last week, as the team hit 16 three-pointers in the game and shot a sizzling .575 from the floor overall. Seven players finished in double figures, as Steve Roccaforte was able to empty his bench in the game. Guards Kenny Dawkins and Brandon McThay led the offensive charge, finishing with 21 and 17 points, respectively. Both players hit five three-pointers in the game and combined for 11 assists as well. Lamar Sanders added 15 points, followed by Darren Hopkins (14), Currye Todd (14), Justin Nabors (11) and Jay Brown (10). Not only did the Cardinals thrive from beyond the arc, but they also outscored their opponent 46-18 in the paint, while scoring 45 points off 29 LC turnovers. That scoring output coupled with the 103 points in the season-opener, gives Lamar an inflated season average of 80.1 ppg. Dawkins has been the top scorer this year, tallying 16.1 ppg, thanks in large part to 43.2 percent long range accuracy. Nabors and Sanders have made solid contributions as well, chipping in with 10.9 and 10.0 ppg, respectively.

BYU is getting it done at both ends of the court this season, resulting in an impressive +16.4 scoring margin. The team is shooting a healthy .483 from the floor, leading to 79.1 ppg. Scoring depth is apparent with four of the five starters boasting double-digit averages. All-American candidate Trent Plaisted leads the way in the frontcourt. The two-time All-Mountain West selection is shooting .580 from the floor thus far and is one of the top big men in the MWC, leading the team in both scoring (17.6 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg). Jonathan Tavernari, who was the MWC Freshman of the Year last season, aids Plaisted's efforts in the frontcourt with 14.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing. Big guard Lee Cummard (6-7, junior) is hitting nearly 60 percent of his shots (.584), resulting in 13.6 ppg, while backcourt mate Sam Burgess (6-3, senior) rounds out the top scorers with 10.0 ppg. Last time out, the Cougars blew a 10- point lead at halftime, falling by seven points to the Spartans. Michigan State, which was held to 29.4 percent shooting in the first half, shot 66.7 percent over the final 20 minutes. Plaisted once again led the way for BYU with 17 points and eight rebounds. Burgess added 12 points to the cause, but the team was unable to out-muscle Michigan State down low, as the Spartans outscored BYU 28-12 in the paint.

The Cardinals have yet to record a win over what would be considered a quality opponent. They aren't likely to get one in Provo this evening either, as Plaisted and company should have a rather easy time of it in kicking off the current homestand with a resounding victory.

Predicted Outcome

BYU 86, Lamar 57