Samford visits Wednesday
12/27/2011 7:07:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Two young teams who have tested themselves against some of the top NCAA Division I men's basketball programs in the country early in their 2011-12 schedules meet Wednesday night at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Sam Houston State (4-8) plays host to Samford (3-7) at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Bearkats will look to defend their perfect 4-0 record on their home floor while the Bulldogs will seek their second road win of the season.
Slowed by early season injuries, Sam Houston has faced a tough schedule of road opponents that have included Notre Dame, Texas and Texas A&M. Samford lost to No. 3 Kentucky 82-50 in the Bulldogs' last game Dec. 20 in Lexington.
Samford brings a 3-7 record into Huntsville Wednesday as the Bulldogs are on the second leg of a three-game holiday road swing.
A member of the Southern Conference who last made an NCAA "March Madness" appearance in 2000, Samford returns three starters and six other lettermen from a 12-19 squad last season.
The Bulldogs are 1-1 against Southland Conference teams this season, defeating UT-Arlington 71-69 in Arlington Nov. 26 and falling to UTSA 74-52 in Birmingham Dec. 5.
The team's other two victories this season came over Lindsey Wilson 82-56 and Spring Hill 90-64.
Samford features a strong front line led by 6-9 sophomore center Drew Windler who is averaging 11.6 points per game. Tyler Hood, a 6-6 freshman and Jeffrey Merritt, a 6-6 senior, add 9.1 and 9.5 points per contest.
Sam Houston's efforts have been aided by the return of junior college transfer Steven Werner who is averaging 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds for the year. Another transfer, Konner Tucker, is the Bearkats' top scored with 11.5 points per contest. Tucker scored 25 points in Sam Houston's 73-49 victory over Northern Arizona in Johnson Coliseum Dec. 20.
Other key contributors for the Bearkats are forward Marcus James (8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds), guards Demarcus Gatlin (8.4 points) and Darius Gatson (7.2 points) and freshman post player Michael Holyfield (6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds).
The Samford contest Wednesday is one of two remaining non-conference encounters for the Bearkats before SHSU opens its defense of its third consecutive Southland Conference West Division title. Sam Houston also hosts Jarvis Christian College on Monday, January 2.
Tickets for all Sam Houston State men's basketball games at Johnson Coliseum are available online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets .
