1980–81 Lamar Cardinals basketball team

1980–81 Lamar Cardinals basketball
Southland Conference
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record25–5 (8–2 Southland)
Head coach
Home arenaMcDonald Gym
1980–81 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Lamar82 .800255  .833
Texas-Arlington73 .700208  .714
Louisiana Tech73 .7002010  .667
Southwestern Louisiana64 .6001513  .536
Arkansas State28 .2001215  .444
McNeese State010 .0001121  .344
Southland Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 1980–81 Lamar Cardinals basketball team represented Lamar University during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals were led by first-year head coach Pat Foster 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 and the 1981 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament. They received an automatic invitation to the 1981 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament where they defeated the Missouri Tigers in the first game and lost to LSU in the second game. Lamar finished the season with a record of 25–5. The Cardinals were ranked in the AP Poll for one week at number 19.