[5] Basketball began in 1923 with the founding of South Park Junior College (renamed Lamar in 1932).

In the early years the squad was hurt by a lack of common opponents and routinely had to play local high schools or city amateur teams.

The revived squad was an immediate success finishing 2nd with a 10–4 record by head coach Dave Engman.

The next year under the veteran coaching of Elbert Pickell the 1947–1948 team pulled an enormous upset by capturing the state title with a 13–3 record.

The following year the Cardinals continued to prosper under head coach Thurman "Slue" Hull who complied 49–30 record at Lamar before being hired away by the University of Texas.

Conference tournament champion Jack Martin was the first head basketball coach for Lamar as a four-year college.

Martin began coaching the Cardinals as they entered the college division Lone Star Conference in 1951.

Coach Martin's Cardinals won the Lone Star Conference title three seasons, the Southland Conference title two seasons, and competed in five NCAA College Division (now NCAA Division II) tournaments.

[11] 1968–69 Season The highlight of Jack Martin's career would be his 1968–1969 squad that earned a #1 national ranking in the Associated Press college division poll.

A week later, they quieted a stunned crowd in College Station's G. Rollie White Coliseum by strumming Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M, 98–87.

With the Cardinals sitting at 6–0 and sixth-ranked University of Tulsa coming to town, most observers figured the good times were at an end.

"Since we had gone 8–17 the previous season, what that team did to start that year has to be one of the greatest surprises ever in Lamar basketball, at least up until that point," said Joe Lee Smith, then LU's director of sports information.

After the Cardinals held off Arkansas State 84–81 in Jonesboro to tie the school record of 12-straight wins, they rose to No.

The overflow throng in McDonald Gym and those viewing the game by closed-circuit television in a nearby dining hall erupted into bedlam when forward Jim Nicholson stole the ball and went in for a layup seconds after the overtime tipoff.

Then, spindly guard Earl Dow popped in a corner jumper to give the Cards a four-point lead, and they controlled the rest of overtime, winning 71–65.

The following year, the Cardinals under Coach Tubbs, had a Cinderella story in the 1980 NCAA basketball tournament as a ten seed advancing to the Sweet 16.

Those players were Terry Long, Lamont Robinson, Tom Sewell, Jerry Everett, and Greg Anderson.

He was previously an assistant coach for the North Carolina State Wolfpack under Jimmy Valvano serving there from 1982 to 1986.

Abatemarco left Lamar after his second year accepting a head coaching position at Drake University.

James Gulley played basketball for Lamar University for four seasons, including during the tenure of Abatemarco, graduating in 1988.

[23] He played in 113 career games for the Cardinals, and scored 1,832 points (16.2 ppg), had 967 rebounds (8.6 rpg), and 719 field goals, each of which is third all-time in school history.

Conference tournament champion Grey Giovanine (1993–1999), an assistant coach at Wichita State, was hired to replace Mike Newell.

Conference tournament champion Billy Tubbs (2003–2006) returned to Lamar University in 2002 as Athletics Director.

In addition to Athletics Director, Tubbs returned as the Cardinals basketball team head coach in 2003 following Mike Deane's reassignment.

Coach Roc's tenure at Lamar was marked by some successes and very highly ranked recruiting classes.

Conference tournament champion On April 5, 2011, Lamar University announced the hiring of Pat Knight, as its new head men's basketball coach.

In the last game of the regular season, Lamar won at home over arch-rival McNeese State.

Conference tournament champion On February 16, 2014, Lamar University announced that Tic Price would be interim head men's basketball coach.

Source:[16] The Cardinals have appeared in five NCAA Division II Tournaments as Lamar State College of Technology.

On March 10, 1984, as Lamar was hosting the Southland Conference tournament, Louisiana Tech came to town with future Hall of Famer Karl Malone.