Kats face red-hot Rockets in Toledo
12/13/2013 8:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Saving one of their toughest opponents of the season to end a three-week, seven-game road swing, the Sam Houston men's basketball team takes on the high-powered Toledo Rockets Saturday afternoon.
Toledo is off to an 8-0 start and comes into Saturday's contest ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division I men's basketball in scoring with a 90.5 points per game average.
All five players who will start for the Rockets when the game tips off at 12 noon Huntsville time are averaging in double figures.
Led by 6-4 senior guard Rian Pearson, the five starters combine for 68.6 points per outing.
“This is basically the same group that came here to Huntsville two years ago for Bracketbusters and beat us by one,” Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten said. “They're an outstanding ball club.”
The 8-0 start for the Rockets includes wins over Detroit, Stony Brook and Boston College.
Sam Houston brings a 7-3 record into the tilt, the Bearkat men's best start since the 2007-08 season.
Junior guards Jabari Peters and Kaheem Ransom lead the Kats with scoring averages of 13.4 and 11.8, respectively. Paul Baxter adds 9.2 points per contest at point guard. Terrance Motley and James Thomas are scoring 8.3 and 6.9 points per game.
Junior center 6-11 Michael Holyfield leads Sam Houston with 5.1 rebounds and 23 blocked shots.
Sam Houston has won three of its last four games.
Following the game in Toledo Saturday, the Bearkats will break for the Christmas holiday. Sam Houston's next action with be a home game Saturday, December 28, at 4 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Tickets for all Sam Houston men's and women's home basketball games are available now online at www.gobearkats.com .
