High-scoring Demons invade Monday night
1/4/2015 4:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Northwestern State and Sam Houston, the teams predicted to finish second and third, respectively, in the 2015 Southland head coaches' preseason poll, meet Monday at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Tip-off is at 8 p.m. The men's game is the nightcap in Sam Houston's second men's and women's basketball doubleheader in three days.
Sam Houston brings a 9-4 record into Monday's tilt. The Bearkats opened their Southland Conference slate with an 84-78 victory over Incarnate Word Saturday. Northwestern State stands 6-6 for the year. The Demons defeated Houston Baptist 99-78 on the road Saturday to open their league schedule.
Just like they did Saturday against Incarnate Word, the SHSU men take on a high scoring offense Monday against the Demons. Northwestern State trails only UIW in scoring with 82.2 points per game. The Demons finished second in the NCAA in scoring each of the past two years and, during the past three seasons, have averaged 83.3 points per game.
Northwestern State swingman Zeek Woodley leads the Southland Conference in scoring with a 22.8 average and junior point guard Jalan West ranks fifth in the league with a 16.2 average.
Sam Houston ranks second in the Southland in defense and leads the league in field goal percentage defense (.377). While the Bearkats do not have anyone ranked among the conference's top 20 scorers, Sam Houston boasts a balanced attack with seven players averaging 7.0 or more points per game.
Five Bearkats scored in double figures in the win over Incarnate Word Saturday. Guards DeMarcus Gatlin (11.0) and Kaheem Ransom (10.9) average in double figures.
Michael Holyfield (8.7 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Aurimas Majauskas (7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds) head up the Bearkats' inside game.
Northwestern State leads the all-time men's basketball series between the two universities with 36 victories to Sam Houston's 16. The pair split last year with the Demons winning 78-59 in Natchitoches, La., and the SHSU men bouncing back for a 57-53 victory in Huntsville.
Next up for the Kats after Monday's contest will be a road trip to New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana. The Sam Houston men return to Johnson Coliseum to play host to McNeese State on Saturday, January 17.
