SHSU men look to bounce back Monday in Abilene
1/25/2015 7:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sam Houston will attempt to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Stephen F. Austin Saturday when the Bearkats travel to face Abilene Christian in a 7 p.m. Southland men's basketball game Monday at Moody Coliseum in Abilene.
The Wildcats enter the game at 9-10 overall and 3-4 in the Southland Conference after dropping three straight league games. ACU fell a week ago at home against Stephen F. Austin, Tuesday at McNeese State and Saturday at home against Incarnate Word. ACU has averaged just 60.3 points per game in those three losses after opening conference with three straight wins by averaging 84.3 ppg
Sam Houston State enters Monday night's game at 14-5 overall and 6-1 in league play. The Bearkats dropped their first game of the conference season Saturday night with a 79-68 home loss to first-place Stephen F. Austin.
The defeat at the hands of the Lumberjacks ended a nine-game winning streak for the SHSU men that dated back to December 16 and a victory over Eastern Washington.
Monday night's game will see the league's top-ranked field goal percentage defensive squad in Sam Houston State take on the league's 12th-ranked team in field goal percentage in ACU. Sam Houston State is allowing opponents to shoot just 37.9 percent from the floor, while ACU is hitting just 41.6 percent from the floor.
Sam Houston State also leads the league in 3-point field goal defense (29.6 percent), while ACU leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8 percent).
Senior guard Harrison Hawkins – who had 18 points Saturday in ACU's loss to Incarnate Word – leads the Wildcats in scoring at 13.6 points per game, while junior guard Parker Wentz is second at 12.8 ppg. Senior guard LaDarrien Williams is third on the team in scoring at 11.2 ppg, while Austin Cooke is averaging 9.6 ppg and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game.
Sam Houston State has just one player averaging in double figures in scoring – senior DeMarcus Gatlin, who is averaging 11.3 ppg – but has six other players averaging between 7.4 ppg and 9.9 ppg. Sam Houston State's 6-11 senior center, Michael Holyfield, leads the Southland in field goal percentage (63.8 percent) and is third in the league in rebounding (8.0 rpg).
Monday's game will be broadcast live in the Walker County area on KSAM 101.7 FM.
