Kats square off with Cardinals Saturday
2/24/2012 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Bearkats stand fourth in the Southland West a 6-7 with three games to play (two at home, one on the road) while Lamar is second in the East at 8-5.
Lamar leads the men's basketball series with SHSU 29 victories to 26. However, Sam Houston has won three of the last four meetings including a 67-60 win last year.
After starting league play 2-6, the Bearkats have bounced back to win four of their last five Southland Conference games. The only loss has been to league-leader UTA.
During the last five games, Sam Houston has outscored its foes 61.4 points to 55.8, limited the opposition to .388 shooting from the field and won the rebounding battle 41.8 to 35.8. Four players have averaged in double figures in the last five Southland games -- Konner Tucker (14.6), Marcus James (10.8), Demarcus Gatlin (10.6) and Steven Werner (10.4).
Lamar, under new coach Pat Knight, has won five of its last seven Southland contests. The Cardinals are led by 6-1 guards Mike James and Anthony Miles who are averaging 16.1 and 14.2 points, respectively.
Sam Houston ranks second in the Southland Conference in both scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, giving up 60.1 points per game and limiting foes to .399 percent shooting.
Bearkat point guard Darius Gatson ranks second in the league in assists (4.5) and Konner Tucker is fourth in the conference in three-point baskets per game (2.3).
Following the Lamar contest, Sam Houston will play its regular season home finale Wednesday Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. when the Bearkats play host to Stephen F. Austin State at Johnson Coliseum. Wednesday is "Senior Night" and, following the game, Johnson Coliseum will host the Great Bearkat Shootout contest presented by The Grove.
Thirty minutes after the conclusion of Saturday's game with Lamar, Double Dave's Pizza will host a post-game pizza buffet at their Pizzaworks location at 3011 11th Street in Huntsville. All Bearkat fans are invited to the event.
The Sam Houston versus Lamar game will be broadcast live by KSAM 101.7 FM.
Tickets for both of the Bearkats' final two home regular season games and for the Southland Conference tournament in Katy are available online now at www.gobearkats.com/tickets . For more information come the SHSU athletic ticket office at the Ron Mafrige Field House or call (936) 294-1729. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
