Battle of the Border (Lamar–McNeese)

Battle of the Border
	Lamar Cardinals McNeese State Cowboys
Sport	Football
First meeting	November 10, 1951; McNeese State 13, Lamar 7
Latest meeting	November 23, 2019; McNeese State 27, Lamar 3
Next meeting	November 21, 2020
Trophy	None
Statistics
Meetings total	38
All-time series	McNeese State leads, 27–10–1
Largest victory	McNeese State, 38–0 (1971)
Longest win streak	McNeese State, 6 (1983–1988)
Current win streak	McNeese State, 1 (2019–present)

The Battle of the Border is the name of the athletics rivalry between the Cardinals and Lady Cardinals of Lamar University and Cowboys and Cowgirls of McNeese State University.^[1]^[2] Originally in football, the rivalry now covers all sports. In 2009, the rivalry was expanded to include "...head-to-head and SLC [Southland Conference] Championship competition in 14 different sports...". The competition is a joint agreement with the two universities and sponsor, Verizon Wireless^[3]

Background

Both universities are public universities in their respective states. Lamar University, located in Beaumont, Texas, is part of the Texas State University System, and McNeese State University, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is part of the University of Louisiana System. Lamar and McNeese are about 60 miles apart, accessible via Interstate 10.

Football

75km
50miles

McNeese State

Lamar

Locations along Interstate 10.

After the 1989 season, Lamar shut down its football program, before resurrecting it for the 2010 season. The Lamar–McNeese State rivalry resumed in 2010.

Results

As of the 2019 season, McNeese State holds a 27–10–1 edge in the all-time series in 38 games.

Lamar victories	McNeese State victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	November 10, 1951	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	13–7
2	November 8, 1952	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	42–7
3	October 29, 1955	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	17–2
4	October 27, 1956	Beaumont, TX	Lamar	18–14
5	October 22, 1966	Beaumont, TX	Lamar	10–7
6	October 21, 1967	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	24–8
7	September 21, 1968	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	10–0
8	September 20, 1969	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	13–7
9	October 10, 1970	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	17–12
10	October 9, 1971	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	38–0
11	October 7, 1972	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	17–7
12	September 22, 1973	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	20–7
13	November 16, 1974	Beaumont, TX	Lamar	17–3
14	November 29, 1975	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	20–10
15	November 13, 1976	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	27–0
16	November 12, 1977	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	35–7
17	November 11, 1978	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	24–23
18	October 13, 1979	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	34–25
19	November 15, 1980	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	35–3
20	October 31, 1981	Beaumont, TX	Tie	20–20
21	November 13, 1982	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	12–3
22	November 19, 1983	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	17–7
23	November 17, 1984	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	34–14
24	November 23, 1985	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	28–7
25	November 22, 1986	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	38–7
26	November 21, 1987	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	44–36
27	November 19, 1988	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	18–17
28	November 18, 1989	Beaumont, TX	Lamar	22–17
29	September 4, 2010	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	30–27
30	November 19, 2011	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	45–17
31	November 17, 2012	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	35–0
32	November 23, 2013	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	42–38
33	November 22, 2014	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	27–24
34	November 21, 2015	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	20–14
35	November 19, 2016	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese State	41–10
36	November 18, 2017	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	13–3
37	November 17, 2018	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	21–17
38	November 23, 2019	Beaumont, TX	McNeese State	27–3
Series: McNeese State leads 27–10–1

Men's basketball

As of the end of the 2017–18 season, Lamar has a 55–48 lead in men's basketball games against McNeese State.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Women's basketball

As of the end of the 2017–18 season, McNeese has a 44–31 series lead in women's basketball over Lamar.^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]

Baseball

As of the end of the 2018 season, Lamar has a 121–80–2 lead over McNeese State.^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]

References

^ "McNeese hosts Lamar in "Battle of the Border" game to close out 2012 season". mcneesesports.com. November 16, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
^ "McNeese State tops Lamar 35-0 in Southland finale". Sports Illustrated. November 17, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
^ "VERIZON WIRELESS ANNOUNCES LAMAR-MCNEESE STATE RIVALRY SERIES". Lamar University Athletics. January 14, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014. The series, made possible through a joint corporate partnership with Verizon Wireless, will feature a scoring system that awards points to each school based on the results of head-to-head and SLC Championship competition in 14 different sports.
^ "Lamar vs McNeese St. (LA)". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lama/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/release/release_20140110aaa.pdf
^ "Cardinals Fall to McNeese State - LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.
^ "McNeese State". mcneesesports.com.
^ "Cards Face Rivalry with McNeese". Lamar University Athletics. March 2, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lama/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/release/release_20140110aaa.pdf
^ "Women's hoops stops McNeese State - LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.
^ "McNeese State". mcneesesports.com.
^ Pam LaFosse (February 26, 2015). "Women's Basketball Upends Lamar 98-77". mcneesestatesports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
^ "Lamar Basketball - 2017-18 Women's Basketball Game Notes" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
^ "Baseball ready for McNeese series - LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.
^ "LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site - Baseball". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.
^ "2015 Baseball Cumulative Statistics". mcneesesports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
^ "2018 LAMAR BASEBALL GAME NOTES" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[note1-1] "McNeese hosts Lamar in "Battle of the Border" game to close out 2012 season". mcneesesports.com. November 16, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-19.

[note2-2] "McNeese State tops Lamar 35-0 in Southland finale". Sports Illustrated. November 17, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-19.

[3] "VERIZON WIRELESS ANNOUNCES LAMAR-MCNEESE STATE RIVALRY SERIES". Lamar University Athletics. January 14, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014. The series, made possible through a joint corporate partnership with Verizon Wireless, will feature a scoring system that awards points to each school based on the results of head-to-head and SLC Championship competition in 14 different sports.

[results-4] "Lamar vs McNeese St. (LA)". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-06-06.

[5] ttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lama/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/release/release_20140110aaa.pdf

[6] "Cardinals Fall to McNeese State - LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.

[7] "McNeese State". mcneesesports.com.

[8] "Cards Face Rivalry with McNeese". Lamar University Athletics. March 2, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[9] ttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lama/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/release/release_20140110aaa.pdf

[10] "Women's hoops stops McNeese State - LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.

[11] "McNeese State". mcneesesports.com.

[12] Pam LaFosse (February 26, 2015). "Women's Basketball Upends Lamar 98-77". mcneesestatesports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.

[13] "Lamar Basketball - 2017-18 Women's Basketball Game Notes" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 21, 2018.

[14] "Baseball ready for McNeese series - LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.

[15] "LAMARCARDINALS.COM - Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site - Baseball". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.

[16] "2015 Baseball Cumulative Statistics". mcneesesports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.

[17] "2018 LAMAR BASEBALL GAME NOTES" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

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v t e Lamar Cardinals basketball
Venues	McDonald Gym (1958–1981) Beaumont Civic Center (1981–1984) Montagne Center (1984–present)
Rivalries	McNeese State
Culture & lore	Big Red Cardinal "Cardinals Fight!"
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Lamar Lady Cardinals basketball
Venues	McDonald Gym (1969–1981) Beaumont Civic Center (1981–1984) Montagne Center (1984–present)
Rivalries	McNeese State
Culture & lore	History Big Red Cardinal "Cardinals Fight!"
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24

v t e Lamar Cardinals football
Venues	South Park High School "Greenie Stadium" (c. 1923–1963) Provost Umphrey Stadium (1964–present)
Bowls & rivalries	1961 Tangerine Bowl 1964 Pecan Bowl Louisiana: Sabine Shoe McNeese: Battle of the Border
Culture & lore	Cardinal "Cardinals Fight!" The Showcase of Southeast Texas Big Red
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990–2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e Lamar Cardinals baseball
Venues	Stuart Stadium (1952–1954) Price Daniel Field (1967–1968) Vincent–Beck Stadium (1969–present)
Rivalries	McNeese State
Seasons	1952 1953 1954 1955–1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e McNeese Cowboys basketball
Venues	Memorial Gymnasium (1945–1956) McNeese Arena (1956–1972) Lake Charles Civic Center (1972–1986) Burton Coliseum (1986–2018) The Legacy Center (2018–present)
Rivalries	Lamar
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NAIA national championship in bold

v t e Southland Conference football rivalries
Conference	Battle of the Border (Lamar–McNeese) Chief Caddo (Northwestern State–Stephen F. Austin) McNeese–Northwestern State NSU Challenge (Nicholls–Northwestern State) River Bell Classic (Nicholls–Southeastern Louisiana) Northwestern State–Southeastern Louisiana
Non-conference	Red Beans and Rice Bowl (Central Arkansas–McNeese) Sabine Shoe (Lamar–Louisiana) Cajun Crown (Louisiana–McNeese) Cypress Mug (Louisiana–Southeastern Louisiana) Louisiana Tech–Northwestern State Louisiana–Monroe–Northwestern State Battle for the Paddle (Nicholls–Texas State) Battle of the Piney Woods (Sam Houston–Stephen F. Austin)