SHSU Men Travel To Nicholls Tuesday
1/19/2015 8:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
With one of the Southland Conference's most balanced offensive attacks and the league's top rebounding and defensive statistics, the Sam Houston State men's basketball team will attempt to continue its current winning streak Tuesday night in Thibodaux, La.
The Bearkats take on the Nicholls Colonels at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Stopher Gymnasium. Sam Houston brings a 13-4 season mark and perfect 5-0 record into the contest. Nicholls is 4-10 for the year and 1-3 in Southland action.
The SHSU men bring an eight-game winning streak into Saturday's contest. The streak began with a 76-54 victory over Eastern Washington on December 16. Sam Houston's longest winning streak at the NCAA Division I level is 11 games from January 9, 2010 (a victory over SFA) until February 20, 2010 (a loss to UTSA) during the Kats' Southland title run.
Nicholls is coming off a 69-66 loss to A&M-Corpus Christi last Saturday. A week ago, the Colonels earned their first Southland Conference victory by defeating Houston Baptist 61-57 at Stopher. All four of Nicholls' wins this season have come on the Colonels' home floor where they are 4-2 this season.
NSU is led by Amin Torres who is averaging 12.8 points per game.
“It's always a challenge when you go on the road in this conference,” SHSU head coach Jason Hooten said. “We just have to play hard and focus on doing the things that we've done to get where we are right now.”
With seven players each averaging more than seven points a game, Sam Houston features a balanced attack in 2014-15.
Four players - Jabari Peters (14.0), DeMarcus Gatlin (13.2), Paul Baxter (11.6) and Michael Holyfield (10..4) -- are averaging in double figures in Southland Conference play
Gatlin and Peters lead the Bearkats for the season with double figure scoring averages of 11.4 and 10.4 points, respectively. Kaheem Ransom (9.7 ppg) has scored in double figures in 10 of Sam Houston's 17 games. Gatlin has 10 double figure performances this season.
Peters has scored season bests of 21 in both the victories at Southeastern Louisiana and Saturday versus McNeese State in Huntsville.
Sam Houston State leads the Southland Conference in scoring defense (61.1 points per game), scoring margin (+16.0 points) and field goal percentage defense (.372) this season.
The Bearkats also top the league in rebounding offense (44.1) and rebounding margin (+9.6) for the year. Michael Holyfield, Sam Houston's 6-11 senior center, stands third in the league individually with 8.0 rebounds. He also is tops in the league with 45 blocked shots.
Tuesday night's game will be broadcast live in the Walker County area on KSAM 101.7 FM
