Battle of the Border (Lamar–McNeese)

Battle of the Border
	Lamar Cardinals McNeese Cowboys
Sport	Football
First meeting	November 10, 1951; McNeese State, 13–7
Latest meeting	November 23, 2024; Lamar, 26–24
Next meeting	November 22, 2025
Trophy	None
Statistics
Meetings total	42
All-time series	McNeese leads, 28–13–1
Largest victory	McNeese State, 38–0 (1971)
Longest win streak	McNeese State, 6 (1983–1988)
Current win streak	Lamar, 2 (2023–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 (athletically branded as "McNeese" since the 2015–16 school year).^[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

60km
37miles

McNeese

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 rivalry resumed in 2010.

Game results

Lamar victories	McNeese 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

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
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
39	March 13, 2021	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	27–26^OT
40	November 19, 2022	Lake Charles, LA	McNeese	24–20
41	November 18, 2023	Beaumont, TX	Lamar	52–27
42	November 23, 2024	Lake Charles, LA	Lamar	26–24
Series: McNeese leads 28–13–1

Men's basketball

As of the end of the 2022–23 season, Lamar has a 62–52^[5] lead in men's basketball games against McNeese.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]

Women's basketball

As of the end of the 2022–23 season, Lamar has a 52–48 series lead in women's basketball over McNeese.^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]

Baseball

As of the end of the 2023 season, Lamar has a 122–84–2 lead over McNeese.^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]

Soccer

As of the end of the 2023 season, Lamar has a 9–6–1 lead over McNeese. Each school sports 3 match winning streaks. McNeese won the first 3 matches.^[21]^[22]

Softball

As of the end of the 2023 season, McNeese has a 37–7 lead over Lamar^[23]

References

^ "McNeese hosts Lamar in "Battle of the Border" game to close out 2012 season". mcneesesports.com. November 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
^ "McNeese State tops Lamar 35–0 in Southland finale". Sports Illustrated. November 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 12, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
^ "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 June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
^ "Men's Basketball History vs McNeese State University from Jan 16, 1952 – Jan 15, 2024". Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ Archived copy Archived December 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Cardinals Fall to McNeese State – LAMARCARDINALS.COM – Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.
^ "McNeese State". mcneesesports.com.
^ "Cards Face Rivalry with McNeese". Lamar University Athletics. March 2, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Women's Basketball History vs McNeese State University from Jan 21, 1970 – Jan 11, 2024". Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ Archived copy Archived December 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Women's hoops stops McNeese State – LAMARCARDINALS.COM – Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.
^ "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 All-Time Records Season Records Opponent Records". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ "Baseball ready for McNeese series – LAMARCARDINALS.COM – Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.
^ "LAMARCARDINALS.COM – Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site – Baseball". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.
^ "2015 Baseball Cumulative Statistics". mcneesesports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
^ "2018 LAMAR BASEBALL GAME NOTES" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
^ "Women's Soccer History vs McNeese State University from Oct 14, 2007 – Nov 1, 2019". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
^ "Women's Soccer History vs McNeese State University from Oct 14, 2007 – Nov 5, 2023". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
^ Athletics, McNeese Cowgirls. 2024 Softball Record Book (PDF). McNeese State Athletic Department. p. 35. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[note1-1] "McNeese hosts Lamar in "Battle of the Border" game to close out 2012 season". mcneesesports.com. November 16, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.

[note2-2] "McNeese State tops Lamar 35–0 in Southland finale". Sports Illustrated. November 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 12, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.

[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 June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.

[5] "Men's Basketball History vs McNeese State University from Jan 16, 1952 – Jan 15, 2024". Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[6] Archived copy Archived December 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

[7] "Cardinals Fall to McNeese State – LAMARCARDINALS.COM – Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.

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

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

[10] "Women's Basketball History vs McNeese State University from Jan 21, 1970 – Jan 11, 2024". Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[11] Archived copy Archived December 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

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

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

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

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

[16] "Baseball All-Time Records Season Records Opponent Records". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[17] "Baseball ready for McNeese series – LAMARCARDINALS.COM – Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.

[18] "LAMARCARDINALS.COM – Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site – Baseball". lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014.

[19] "2015 Baseball Cumulative Statistics". mcneesesports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.

[20] "2018 LAMAR BASEBALL GAME NOTES" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2018.

[21] "Women's Soccer History vs McNeese State University from Oct 14, 2007 – Nov 1, 2019". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved September 13, 2022.

[22] "Women's Soccer History vs McNeese State University from Oct 14, 2007 – Nov 5, 2023". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

[23] Athletics, McNeese Cowgirls. 2024 Softball Record Book (PDF). McNeese State Athletic Department. p. 35. Retrieved January 30, 2024.

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v t e All-sports or multi-sport rivalries in NCAA Division I
Trophy/point system competitions	Arizona–Arizona State (Territorial Cup Series) Boston University–Holy Cross (Turnpike Trophy) Clemson–South Carolina (Palmetto Series) George Mason–George Washington (Revolutionary Rivalry) Georgia Southern–Georgia State (Modern Day Hate) Indiana–Purdue (Indiana National Guard Governor's Cup) Iowa–Iowa State (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series) James Madison–Old Dominion (Royal Rivalry) New Mexico–New Mexico State (Rio Grande Rivalry) Oklahoma–Oklahoma State (Bedlam Series) Oregon–Oregon State (Civil War Series) Sacramento State–UC Davis (Causeway Classic) South Florida–UCF (War on I-4) Texas State–UTSA (I-35 Rivalry) UCLA–USC (SoCal BMW Crosstown Cup) Virginia–Virginia Tech (Commonwealth Clash)
Defunct trophy/ point competitions	Duke–North Carolina (Carlyle Cup) Kansas–Missouri (Border Showdown Series) Texas–Texas A&M (Lone Star Showdown)
Overall rivalries	BYU–Utah Canisius–Niagara (Battle of the Bridge) Cincinnati–Louisville Cincinnati–Memphis Cincinnati–Xavier Colorado State–Wyoming (Border War) Dartmouth–New Hampshire Duke–North Carolina Duke–North Carolina–NC State–Wake Forest (Tobacco Road) Florida–Kentucky Fordham–Manhattan (Battle of the Bronx) Fordham–St. John's George Mason–VCU Hofstra–Stony Brook (Battle of Long Island) Houston–Rice Houston–SMU Illinois–Indiana Illinois–Iowa Indiana–Kentucky Indiana–Purdue Iowa–Iowa State Kansas–Kansas State (Sunflower Showdown) Kansas–Missouri (Border War) Kentucky–Louisville Kentucky–Tennessee Lamar–McNeese (Battle of the Border) Louisville–Memphis North Carolina–NC State North Carolina–Wake Forest North Carolina A&T–North Carolina Central North Carolina A&T–Winston-Salem State NC State–Wake Forest Norfolk State–Old Dominion North Carolina A&T–UNC Greensboro (Battle of Market Street) Old Dominion–William & Mary Oregon–Oregon State Princeton–Rutgers Tennessee–Vanderbilt UCLA–USC UConn–UMass

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)