Men's basketball hosts Saint Thomas Wednesday
11/30/2010 3:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Bearkats bring a 3-1 record into the contest after a 92-81 win at Colorado State last Saturday night.
The University of Saint Thomas bring a 3-6 mark into the game. In the Celts' only encounter with an NCAA Division I program this year, Saint Thomas lost to Rice 63-51. The Celts led at halftime, 30-29, and were down just three with 14 minutes to play before the Owls went on a 13-2 run.
Sam Houston is perfect in two home games this year, opening the season by downing Mary Hardin-Baylor 72-47 and Northwestern Oklahoma State 90-68.
The Bearkats are being led by their three senior captains with Gilberto Clavell averaging 19.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, Josten Crow 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds and Lance Pevehouse 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds.
Clavell, the Southland Conference "Newcomer of the Year" in 2009-10, is a first team preseason All-Southland selection while Crow was named to the preseason second team.
Junior post player Antuan Bootle has started the last three contests and is posting a 9.3 scoring average and leading the team with 9.0 rebounds.
"The win at Colorado State was a good one for us," Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten said. "We didn't play well to start the game but had a good run at the end of the first half. Our shots starting dropping and that was big. We have to be able to score from the perimeter for our inside game to work."
Several newcomers have been adding to the Bearkats' success. Point guard Marcus Williams is averaging 8.5 points per game while Nafis Richardson has scored 4.8 points per contest.
Following Wednesday's contest, the Bearkats face off with the Houston Cougars at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, in a contest to be televised regionally by the Southland Television Network. Saturday is TDCJ Day at Johnson Coliseum with special ticket prices for Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees.
The official 2010 Southland Conference championship banner raising will highlight the Dec. 8 game with North Texas at 7 p.m. For the third time since 2000, Sam Houston will celebrate a Southland title by unveiling the championship banner in a pregame ceremony.
On Saturday, Dec. 11, it's "Kids Day" at Johnson Coliseum for the 3:30 p.m. tilt with Cleveland State. Students and children 17 years old and younger are free with one paid adult. Up to four kids will be admitted free with each adult.
The Dec. 1 game will be the first of five "Taco Bell Wednesday" games where fans can pick up special 2-for-1 ticket coupons at Taco Bell for the contests.
The best bargain for sports fans, however, is the new "Elite 8" ticket package which offers fans the opportunity to purchase a ticket to seven Saturday night games against NCAA Division I opponents plus the Stephen F. Austin rivalry game on Wednesday, January 26 - all eight games for the remarkable price of only $50. The "Elite 8" ticket package is on sale now online on www.gobearkats.com/tickets .
Fans also may purchase tickets at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1764.
