Bearkats visit Texas A&M Wednesday
12/6/2011 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sam Houston State takes on Texas A&M in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday night in College Station in a contest that will be regionally televised by Fox Sports Southwest.
KSAM FM 101.7 radio in Huntsville will carry live play-by-play locally and on the internet.
Texas A&M brings a 6-1 record into the contest. The Aggies feature a starting lineup with three players averaging in double figures including 6-9 forward Ray Turner (14.1 points, 6.3 rebounds), 6-5 guard Elston Turner (11.9 points) and 6-8 forward David Loubeau (10.9 points, 5.0 rebounds).
An undermanned Sam Houston squad that has suffered through a string of injuries stands 3-5 for the year. Konner Tucker, a 6-4 junior guard, and Marcus James, a 6-7 senior forward, lead the Bearkats with 12.4 and 9.9 points per game, respectively.
The Aggies lead the Big 12 in scoring defense (53.1) and 3-point FG% defense (25.7), rank second in rebounding (40.9) and rebound margin (+9.6), and third in FG% defense (34.1).
Over the last 3 games, Texas A&M has held foes to 43.0 points per game, 29.8 percent from the floor (48-for-161) and 16.7 percent from 3-point range (7-for-42) ... opponents are averaging 16.6 first-half points this year at Reed Arena and are being held to an average of 22 first-half points overall.
A&M has held three straight opponents under 50 points per game for the first time since 2006 and only the second time since the 1959-60 season.
Sam Houston State defeated Dallas Christian and Paul Quinn College last week to remain unbeaten 3-0 at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville. Two weeks ago the Kats battled Texas in Austin down to the wire.
Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 65-17, which dates back to 1945. The Aggies have won 16 in a row, but the teams have played just once since 1998. SHSU was defeated in its only trip to Reed Arena, a 60-50 setback on Dec. 28, 2008. The Bearkats' last win over the Aggies came on Dec. 5, 1956 in Huntsville (59-58).
Next up for the Bearkats after the trip to College Station will be the North Texas Mean Green Saturday night in Denton. Next home game for the Sam Houston State men will be Tuesday, Dec. 20, when the Kats play host to Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. in Johnson Coliseum.
Sam Houston State men's basketball tickets are available on line at www.gobearkats.com or at the SHSU 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 number is (936) 294-1729.
