UTSA to give Bearkats 'best shot' tonight
2/3/2010 2:07:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Cody Stark, Huntsville Item Assistant Sports Editor
When Southland Conference action tipped off a few weeks ago, there wasn't any team in the league hotter than Texas-San Antonio.
The Roadrunners had won six of their last eight games, then started SLC play with wins over McNeese State and Nicholls. But recently, UTSA has hit some bumps in the road and have lost four in a row heading into today's 7 p.m. matchup against Sam Houston State at Johnson Coliseum.
"They got off to a good nonconference record at 10-3, then they have had some adversity within their team," Bearkats head coach Bob Marlin said Tuesday. "They have been in some games until the end and have lost a couple of home games when they were right there. They are certainly capable of coming in here and winning."
The Roadrunners (2-4 in SLC, 12-7 overall) are dangerous despite their record. UTSA has three guards averaging double figures in scoring.
Senior Morris Smith leads the team with 13.2 points per game. Junior Devin Gibson is close behind (12.8 points) followed by senior Omar Johnson (10.7).
Senior forward Terry Fields leads the Roadrunners in rebounds (6.2) and is averaging 9.9 points per contest.
"Their three perimeter players have really been playing solid for them," Marlin added. "They are playing Fields and (Demarco) Stepter inside. Fields has really been shooting the (3-pointer) well. They are a little bit shorthanded. Their depth has taken a hit.
"But we will get their best shot. It doesn't matter if they have gone through some adversity, we will get their best shot."
The Bearkats (6-0, 14-5) have gone in the opposite direction. Sam Houston lost its final two nonconference games, but have since turned things around.
The Kats have won six straight, including a key come-from-behind victory at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday between the only two unbeaten teams in SLC action.
But the Roadrunners have something to build off of coming into tonight's game. UTSA upset Sam Houston in the opening round of the Southland Conference tournament last season.
That could also be an incentive for the Bearkats, who would like to avenge that 83-74 setback in Katy last March.
"They are excited about the opportunity to play," Marlin said. "Obviously they were disappointed about last year. We had won 12 out of 15, then lost that game in the tournament. It was kind of sudden. We thought we had a chance to win the thing, but San Antonio beat us."
The Kats play three of their next four games at home including 7 p.m. contests Wednesday with UTSA and Saturday with Central Arkansas. All Bearkat men's basketball games are broadcast live on KSAM 101.7 FM and on the internet at www.gobearkats.com
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE POST-SEASON TOURNAMENT
The top two teams from both divisions, plus the next four remaining teams with the best records will advance to the Merrill Center in Katy for the annual post-season SLC tournament to decide the Southland's NCAA playoff representative.The tournament begins on Wednesday March 10 with four quarter-final games. The semi-finals will be played Thursday night March 11. The finals will be televised live on ESPN2 on Saturday March 13. For ticket information about the tournament see the Bearkats' Southland Conference Classic post-season tournament link.
SPECIAL SATURDAY NIGHT TICKET PACKAGE
The Sam Houston men play three Saturday night home games during Febuary. And now Bearkat fans have the opportunity to see all three men's basketball Saturday night games in February for a bargain price. With the "Saturday Night Southland Conference Ticket Package" a reserved seat ticket for all three contests is only $15. The three Saturday night men's basketball opponents are Central Arkansas Feb. 6, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Feb. 13 and UT-Arlington Feb. 27. Tip off time each Saturday is 7 p.m. Only a limited number of reserved seats for the three games remain, so fans need to act now.
Tickets for all men's basketball home games are on sale now on-line at www.gobearkats.com . 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. Ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
