1978–79 Lamar Cardinals basketball team

1978–79 Lamar Cardinals basketball
Southland Conference champions
NCAA Tournament, Second round
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record23–9 (9–1 Southland)
Head coach
Home arenaMcDonald Gym
Beaumont Civic Center
1978–79 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Lamar 9 1   .900 23 9   .719
Louisiana Tech 6 4   .600 17 8   .680
Southwestern Louisiana 6 4   .600 16 11   .593
Arkansas State 5 5   .500 15 12   .556
McNeese State 3 7   .300 10 17   .370
Texas-Arlington 1 9   .100 11 16   .407
Rankings from AP poll

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. 7 seed Detroit in the first round before falling to No. 1 seed and eventual National champion Michigan State and Magic Johnson. Lamar finished the season with a record of 23–9 (9–1 Southland). This season was the first of three straight (and four in five years) NCAA Tournament appearances for the Cardinals.