Bearkats, Bobcats meet on TV Saturday
3/4/2010 3:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Cody Stark Huntsville Item
HUNTSVILLE - The Bearkats have a chance to make one final statement before heading to the Merrell Center in Katy next week for the Southland Conference tournament.
Sam Houston State (14-1 in SLC, 22-6 overall) would like nothing more than to continue its hot-streak today at Texas State. Winner's of three straight, the Bearkats can build on their momentum as the SLC regular-season champions try to advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003.
Saturday's game will be televised on the Southland Conference Television Network. The game was selected as the league's wild card game.
"We hope we can continue to play well and improve our defense," SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said Friday. "That is the main thing. If we play well we will continue to win."
Texas State (8-7, 14-15) has more on the line today. The Bobcats are currently tied with Texas-Arlington and Texas-San Antonio for the fifth seed in the SLC tournament.
The Bobcats could finish as high as the fifth seed or drop to seventh, but the best thing they can do is help themselves out by winning and everything else will work itself out.
Texas State does come into today's contest with its own streak on the line. The Bobcats have won two straight, including an 83-76 win over UTSA on Wednesday.
The loss snapped the Roadrunners' five-game winning streak, which included a 91-90 overtime victory over Sam Houston, the Kats' only SLC setback of the season.
Texas State had lost three in a row before knocking off Northwestern State last Saturday.
"They are playing better," Marlin added. "They got a big win at UT-San Antonio. They are certainly going to try to build off that."
The Bearkats won the first meeting with Texas State at Johnson Coliseum on Jan. 20. Sam Houston went on a 9-3 run in the final two minutes to take a 12-point lead at the half, then ran away with the game in the final 20 minutes en route to a 95-64 victory.
One of the keys to the Bearkats' win was getting Texas State star Cameron Johnson into foul trouble. The junior forward, who leads the Bobcats in scoring at 14.3 points per game, fouled out and didn't score.
It would be wishful thinking to hope Johnson will have that same type of game again. He torched UTSA for 29 points and nine boards on Wednesday.
"We got him in foul trouble and he didn't score," Marlin said. "That definitely benefited us and we were able to win. Cameron Johnson will bounce back. He is an all-conference player. We have to control him."
The Southland Conference TV network will also televise five games of the conference tournament, including the women's championship game on Friday, March 12. Both men's and women's semifinal games will be televised by the network on Thursday, March 11, while the men's championship game will be televised by ESPN2 on Saturday, March 13.
Tickets to see both the men and the women play in the State Farm Southland Conference Post-Season Classic tournament are now on sale. The winner of the Southland tournament earns the league's automatic berth in the 2010 NCAA Big Dance.
Fans may purchase session tickets online at SHSU Ticket Office or by calling 936-294-1729. The supply of Southland single session tickets are a limited so fans are urged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible.
First round and semifinal men's and women's session tickets are $18 each and feature two games. Championship day tickets are $15.
Go to Southland Tournament Central for more information or by call the SHSU Athletic Ticket office at 936 294-1729. The Sam Houston athletic ticket office is located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
By purchasing tournament tickets through the SHSU Ticket Office, fans will assured of seats in the SHSU section of the Merrell Center. Tickets will be allocated based on a priority system and availability.
