Undefeated Teams Meet In Piney Woods Battle
1/23/2015 3:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin, the only two teams still undefeated in the 2015 Southland Conference race, square off Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
The two teams that meet at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville not only represent the oldest basketball rivalry in the league but also stand as the two winningest programs in the Southland since the new century began. In fact, among the 21 NCAA Division I programs in Texas, only the UT Longhorns have won more games than Sam Houston and SFA since the 2000 season.
Both squads bring winning streaks into Saturday's contest.
Sam Houston has won its last nine games and sits at 6-0 in league play while SFA has claimed its last 14 contests and is 5-0 in conference. The Lumberjacks have earned 14 consecutive victories, the third-longest active winning streak in the country. Kentucky and Virginia have started out the 2014-15 season at 18-0 and 17-0, respectively.
"The guys are naturally fired up about a rivalry game," SHSU head coach Jason Hooten said. "The important thing about this game is that first place is on the line."
SFA also owns a remarkable string of 27 consecutive Southland Conference basketball victories. SFA last lost a league game Feb. 16, 2013, in a 54-50 decision at Southeastern Louisiana.
The two squads are the only Southland teams in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll. The Jacks stand No. 4 while Sam Houston is No. 16.
Thomas Walkup and Jacob Parker led the Lumberjacks with scoring averages of 13.9 and 13.8 points, respectively. A 6-4 redshirt freshman, Walkup earned Southland “Player of the Week” honors Monday after averaging 25 points, six assists and 4.5 rebounds to help lead the Lumberjacks to two conference road wins against Central Arkansas and Abilene Christian.
"We both know what the other team is going to do," Hooten said. "We're a different team than we were last year. This is a game that is going to be a measuring stick for both programs."
Sam Houston will be looking to keep its current home winning streak alive. The Bearkats are 9-0 in Johnson Coliseum during the 2014-15 season.
The SHSU men lead the Southland in rebounds and rank high in the country in numerous categories under the boards. Sam Houston stands second in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (29.28), third in total rebounds per game (43.39), seventh in total rebounds (781), eighth in rebounding margin (9.3) and 18th in offensive rebounds per game (14.11).
With seven players each averaging more than seven points a game, Sam Houston features one of the most balanced attacks in the league.
Four players -DeMarcus Gatlin (12.0), Jabari Peters (11.7), Paul Baxter (10.7) and Michael Holyfield (10.0) -- are averaging in double figures in Southland Conference play.
Gatlin is the only Bearkat in double figures for the season (11.1) but Peters (9.8), Kaheem Ransom (9.6), Holyfield (8.9) and Dakarai Henderson (8.9) are close. Eleven players have scored in double figures for the Bearkats in games this season.
Sam Houston is averaging 20.2 bench points per contest in Southland Conference play. Top players off the bench include perimeter shooting ace Dakarai Henderson (8.8 points per game) and post play Aurimas Majauskas (7.4 points, 4.1rebounds).
The Kats lead the Southland Conference in scoring defense (59.8 points per game), scoring margin (+16.0 points) and field goal percentage defense (.371) this season.
Michael Holyfield, Sam Houston's 6-11 senior center, stands third in the league individually with 8.1 rebounds. He also is tops in the league with 48 blocked shots.
Saturday's game will broadcast live in the Walker County area on KSAM 101.7 FM. Tickets are available online at www.gobearkats.com.
