UTA visits on title celebration night
2/7/2012 6:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
But the Mavs enter an environment expected to be super-charged with excitement as Sam Houston State celebrates its 2011 Southland Conference football championship and NCAA Division I championship game appearance in special ceremonies before and at halftime of the SHSU vs. UTA game.
Members of the football team will be available for autograph signings on the concourse at Johnson Coliseum prior to the contest. Walker County, Huntsville and Sam Houston dignitaries will join the players in a championship celebration at halftime.
The crowd should see an exciting basketball game as well.
UTA brings a 13-game unbeaten streak into the contest which will be televised regionally by the Southland TV network.
The Houston affiliate for the basketball telecast is KPRC 2.2, which can be found on Channel 732 on Suddenlink in Huntsville. The contest will be streamed on the internet at Southland.org and ESPN3.com. Double Dave's Pizza in Huntsville has power at this time and will be showing the Sam Houston men's game.
KSAM 101.7 FM will broadcast the action live on radio in the Huntsville area and on the internet.
The 13-game streak, longest in Maverick history, includes a 66-40 victory over the Bearkats on Jan. 11 in Arlington.
Sam Houston is 3-6 in Southland action. The Bearkats defeated Southeastern Louisiana 57-55 on the road last Saturday.
"Right now, our goal is to get into the Southland tournament in Katy," SHSU head coach Jason Hooten said. "We're looking to get better every game and fight and scratch our way into the playoffs."
UTA's winning streak is the third longest in the nation behind Murray State (23) and Kentucky (15). The Mavericks are 9-0 in Southland Conference play for the first time ever and are leading the West Division by three games over UTSA and Stephen F. Austin, both 6-3.
LaMarcus Reed leadsUTA in scoring at 16.7 points per game, a figure that jumps to 20.1 in conference play. The senior is coming off game-high 22 points in Saturday's 69-61 win at Central Arkansas. Reed has 20 double-digit scoring games, including 15 straight, and seven games of at least 20 points.
Konner Tucker and Demarcus Gatlin lead Sam Houston with scoring averages of 11.8 and 11.0 points, respectively.
UTA ranks second in the Southland Conference in scoring offense while the Bearkats stand second in the league in scoring defense.
Tickets are available now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets . The Sam Houston ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
