FRISCO, Texas – Lamar University has won the 2023-24 Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup and Men's All-Sports Trophy. It marks the first time in program history that LU has earned the Commissioner's Cup. In addition to the Commissioner's Cup, Lamar also won the men's all-sports trophy for the just second time in department history and the first since 2011-12.
The trophy, which was created for the start of the 2002-03 academic year, tracks the overall combined success of each SLC member institution within a calendar year. A school will receive 10 points for a conference regular-season title, 9 for second place, 8 for third and so on down the standings. The Commissioner's Cup total comes from combining the scores from the Men's All-Sport Trophy and the Women's All-Sports Trophy.
It marks the second-straight season that LU has made history in the chase for the Commissioner's Cup. The 2022-23 season saw the Cardinals bring home its first women's all-sports trophy.
"It's a very exciting time to be a Lamar Cardinal," said LU Director of Athletics Jeff O'Malley. "Graduating student-athletes and celebrating their success in the competition arena is why we're in this business. There is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make this possible. I couldn't be prouder of our teams, coaches and staff. This is a true reflection of the dedication of the entire university, our fans and the Beaumont community. For our institution to accomplish something that has never been done before is a rewarding way to end a very special season."
The Cardinals secured the cup by scoring 59.5 points on the men's side and 65.0 on the women's side. LU outpaced second-place McNeese by 14 points. The season was anchored by conference titles from the LU women's cross country, soccer and basketball teams, to go along with a baseball title.
In addition to the conference title in baseball, the LU men saw improved finishes in football and men's basketball, to go along with an SLC runner-up finish in golf.
The Cardinals officially secured the Commissioner's Cup before the baseball season wrapped up due to outdoor track and field's finish at the conference championships. After securing 16.0 combined points during the indoor championships, the LU men's and women's team scored 14.0 combined at the SLC Outdoor Championships.
Even with the overall Cup secured, Lamar still had work to do to claim the Men's All-Sports trophy. Lamar went into the final weekend of the baseball season trailing UIW by 4.5 points, but Lamar winning the outright regular-season baseball title on the final day of the regular season was enough to overcome the deficit defeating the league's other Cardinals by 1.5 points.
#WeAreLU
