The 1978–79 Lamar Cardinals basketball team represented Lamar University during the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.

The Cardinals were led by third-year head coach Billy Tubbs and played their home games at McDonald Gym in Beaumont, Texas as members of the Southland Conference.

The Cardinals won the regular season conference championship to receive an invitation to the 1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament where they defeated No.

1 seed and eventual National champion Michigan State and Magic Johnson.

[2] This season was the first of three straight (and four in five years) NCAA Tournament appearances for the Cardinals.