FACTS & STATS: Freedom Hall (18,865) -- Louisville, Kentucky. Television: WHAS. Home Record: Lamar 3-0, Louisville 4-0. Away Record: Lamar 2-1, Louisville 0-0. Neutral Record: Lamar 1-1, Louisville 0-1. Conference Record: Lamar 0-0, Louisville 0-0. Series Record: Louisville leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: The ninth-ranked Louisville Cardinals will try to cap a perfect run in the Marques Maybin Classic tonight, as they host the Lamar Cardinals in the final round at Freedom Hall.

The Marques Maybin Classic is a four-team, round robin tournament held over a three day stretch. Louisville, the host of this event, has had no trouble in the first two rounds, posting convincing victories over Indiana State (83-43) and most recently Ohio University (91-56) on Sunday. The wins came on the heels of a stunning loss to Western Kentucky (68-54) in late November. Now at 4-1 overall, Louisville will try remain perfect at home, where it has gone 4-0 thus far.

As for Lamar, it is coming off a heart-breaking loss, falling to Indiana State, 68-66, on Sunday. It was a disappointing finish for Lamar, which opened this event with a 76-67 besting of Ohio. Despite Sunday's loss, the team has fared well in the early going, posting a solid 6-2 ledger.

Lamar has dropped two previous encounters with Louisville on the hardwood, but this is the first meeting between the programs in 26 years.

Indiana State's Rashad Reed hit a shot with under a second left in regulation, sending Lamar to a 68-66 loss on Sunday. It was a tough ending for the Cardinals, who shot just 37.9 percent from the field, including a poor 4-of-22 effort from downtown. Jay Brown guided the club in defeat with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kenny Dawkins had 13 points and five boards. On the year, Dawkins leads Lamar in scoring at 16.0 ppg and he also leads the way with 3.5 apg and 19 steals. Brown nearly averages a double-double with 13.6 ppg and a team-best 9.1 rpg, while Brandon McThay checks in with 13.5 ppg. As a whole, Lamar is posting 75.6 ppg and outrebounding its opponents by 7.5 rpg.

Louisville shot 51.6 percent from the field, including an 11-of-23 effort from long range, as it rolled past Ohio on Sunday. The Cardinals were also dominant on the boards, holding a 46-26 advantage over helpless Ohio. Samardo Samuels led the charge with 19 points, but Earl Clark stole the show with a near triple-double of 17 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Jerry Smith rounded out the double-figure scorers, with 16 points. On the season, Samuels paces Louisville in scoring with 16.6 ppg and he is also collecting 5.0 rpg. Clark has done a little of everything for the team and he turns in 13.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 3.2 apg. As a team, Louisville has also been able to clamp down on defense, holding its foes to just 52.4 ppg and a dismal 34.2 percent shooting from the floor.

Louisville is the obvious choice here and it should be able to dominate on defense and in the paint for another convincing win tonight.

Predicted Outcome

Louisville 79, Lamar 60