Men's basketball faces FIU Saturday night
12/17/2010 6:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball
With finals week wrapped up, the Sam Houston men's basketball team begins a five-game holiday road schedule traveling to Miami, Fla., to renew a rivalry with the Florida International.
The Bearkats and the Panthers are meeting for the third time. Sam Houston defeated FIU in Huntsville 93-63 last year. The Panthers won 70-51 in 2003-04 in Florida.
FIU brings a 4-5 record into Saturday's contest. The Panthers will be seeking to end a four-game losing streak (losses to Marshall, Louisville, Jackson State and Bowling Green) with all four coming on the road. FIU is 4-1 at home this year.
Two junior college transfers lead the Panthers. Erik Fredrick, a 6-8 post player, is averaging 16.8 points while DeJuan Wright, a 6-3 guard, adds 13.9 points.
"Florida International is a very talented team, maybe just as talented as Cleveland State," Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten. "We put it on them pretty good last year and I am sure they are going to be looking to put it on us when we go to their place."
Sam Houston stands 5-3 for the season after a 74-62 loss to Cleveland State at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville Saturday afternoon. The Vikings, now 12-0, own the best record in NCAA Division I men's basketball this season.
The Bearkats own Division I victories over Colorado State and North Texas and lost in overtime to Conference USA tournament champion Houston. The Kats lost on the road to No. 21 Texas and opened the year with wins over Mary Hardin-Baylor 72-47 and Northwestern Oklahoma State 90-68.
Sam Houston is being led by their three senior captains. Gilberto Clavell is averaging 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds, Josten Crow 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds and Lance Pevehouse 7.6 points and 3.8 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.
Transfer guard Marcus Williams averages 9.0 points. Junior center Antuan Bootle adds a 6.3 scoring average and is pulling down 6.5 rebounds. Junior point guard Drae Murray owns a 5.8 scoring average and adds 5.0 assists per contest.
Two junior college transfers also are providing strong play off the bench. Nafis Richardson, a 6-1 guard from McLennan Community College, is averaging 5.3 points while Marcus James, a 6-7 forward from Seward County Junior College, is adding 4.2 points per contest.
Following the trip to Florida International, the Bearkats will meet the University of Houston in a rematch of the pair's overtime battle in Huntsville December 4. The Kats and the Cougars tangle in Houston Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
Next, Sam Houston heads to El Paso, Tex., to participate in the Bank of the West Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational and play a road game with tournament host UTEP. The Kats face Air Force on Tuesday, Dec. 28 and Western New Mexico on Wednesday, Dec. 29 in the tournament. The Miners and Sam Houston face off on Sunday, Jan. 2.
Sam Houston opens the defense of its Southland Conference championship on Sautrday, Jan. 8, with a road game encounter at UTSA. The Bearkats' first Southland home game will be a 7 p.m. tilt with UT-Arlington on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for Sam Houston basketball are on sale now online at 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.
