7-0 Bearkats host Central Arkansas Saturday
2/5/2010 6:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 7 p.m.
Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum (6,100) - Huntsville, Texas
Radio: KSAM 101.7 FM - Streaming Video: www.gobearkats.com
SETTING THE STAGE
The Sam Houston men's basketball team, alone atop the Southland Conference West Division standings with a perfect 7-0 league record, play host to Central Arkansas Saturday night at Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats have three players averaging in double figures with 6-1 guard Corey Allmond, 6-1 scoring 16.4 points per game, 6-7 post Gilberto Clavell hitting 15.9 points and 5-11 point guard Ashton Mitchell 12.7. Central Arkansas stands 7-15 for the year and 1-7 in league action. The Bears are led by 6-6 forward Mitch Rueter with 12.4 points and 6-7 forward Tadre Sheppard who averages 12.3 points.
SAM HOUSTON VS. UCA SERIES RECORD
Sam Houston stands 4-0 against the Bears. The Kats are 2-0 in Huntsville and 2-0 in Conway. Sam Houston State won 75-52 in Conway last year.
BEARKATS OFF TO 7-0 START IN SOUTHLAND ACTION
Sam Houston stands 7-0 in Southland play this year, the first time their 23 years in the conference that the Bearkats have won their first seven league games. The Bearkats stood 7-1 after eight contests in 2009. This year's seven consecutive conference victories tie as the second longest Southland winning streak for Sam Houston. The top Sam Houston men's basketball SLC winning streaks are:
* 9 consecutive wins - 2003 (championship season)
* 7 consecutive wins - 2000 (championship season), 2009 and 2010
* 6 consecutive wins - 2005 and 2007
FORMER PLAYERS REUNION
Former Sam Houston State men's basketball players will gather for a reunion at the Bearkats' 7 p.m. Southland Conference contest Saturday at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. The players will be introduced to fans in a special halftime ceremony and meet with the current Sam Houston men's basketball team in a post-game reception following the contest. Players expected to return include Shamir McDaniel, Ryan Bright, Jeremy Burkhalter, Seneca Wall, Aaron Wade, Wilder Auguste, Robert Shannon, Ryan Griffin and others.
LAST GAME
Gilberto Clavell scored 27 points and Corey Allmond added 22 to lead Sam Houston State to a 73-67 victory over UTSA Wednesday at Johnson Coliseum. The Roadrunners build an early lead, going up 18-14 with 8:01 left in the first half, but Sam Houston closed the period with a 17-4 run to lead 31-22 at intermission. Sam Houston held a 13 point lead after a Clavell layup with 18:15 to play put the Kats up 35-22. UTSA rallied to cut the Bearkats margin to one point twice but Sam Houston pulled away each time to hold on to the victory.
HIGH-SCORING BACKCOURT DUO
Senior guards Corey Allmond and Ashton Mitchell comprise the highest scoring backcourt duo in the Sam Houston's 23 years at the NCAA Division I level. The two players (who are roommates off the court) have combined for 29.1 points per game this season. The duo paired for 27.8 points last year.
DEFENSE A KEY FOR THE BEARKATS
When the Bearkats have played solid defense this season, success has followed. In Sam Houston's 15 victories, the Kats have held opponents to 61.9 points and a field goal percentage of .389. In the Bearkats' five losses, opponents have averaged 87.8 points and shot .572.
BEARKATS RANK HIGH IN SOUTHLAND, NATIONAL STATS
Corey Allmond ranks leads the Southland Conference and stands No. 7 nationally in 3-point field goals per game (3.2). Allmond also is No. 4 in the Southland in scoring (16.4). Ashton Mitchell leads the Southland in assists per game (4.9). Gilberto Clavell stands No. 5 in Southland scoring (15.9). Josten Crow ranks No. 1 in the league and is No. 11 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (3.1).
MITCHELL NEARING 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Ashton Mitchell, senior point guard from New Orleans, is 56 points away from becoming the 21st men's basketball player to score 1,000 career points. He currently stands No. 29 in SHSU career scoring (944).
BEARKAT BASKETBALL TICKETS
Tickets for men's basketball home games are on sale now on-line. 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.
SATURDAY NIGHTS 3 FOR $15 PACKAGE
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.
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 LINK TO SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TICKETS
