SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN SET FOR CYPRESS CYPRESS, La. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum to close non-conference play will meet Monday when the Lamar Cardinals visit the Northwestern State Demons at Prather Coliseum. The Southland Conference matchup features struggling squads. Lamar (5-6) enters having lost four of its last five, including a heartbreaking 85-82 overtime defeat to Omaha on Dec. 20. Northwestern State (3-8) snapped a three-game skid with a 108-55 rout of Southern-N.O. that same day. The Cardinals will lean on guard Rob Lee, who has been a consistent offensive bright spot. He is averaging 16.4 points per game and is coming off a 24-point effort in the overtime loss to Omaha. Over his last five games, Lee has scored in double figures each time, including a 21-point performance at San Diego State. The Demons counter with their own high-scoring guard in Micah Thomas. He exploded for 20 points in just 20 minutes in the recent blowout win and dropped 18 points in a victory at Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 7. His playmaking will be key against a Lamar defense that has allowed 78.8 points per game during its 1-4 slide. Both teams have endured challenging early schedules. Lamar’s losses include setbacks to San Diego State and TCU, while Northwestern State has faced a gauntlet of road games at power conference opponents Texas A&M, California and North Texas. This game serves as the final tune-up before each team dives deeper into its conference schedule in the new year. Lamar visits Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday, while Northwestern State hosts Stephen F. Austin. Monday’s contest tips off at 7 p.m. CST. The Demons will look to protect their home floor and build on their lone dominant performance of the season, while the Cardinals aim to halt their recent slide behind Lee’s scoring prowess before hitting the road again.