Bearkats play in Las Vegas Friday Afternoon
11/26/2015 11:46:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Sam Houston men's basketball team is spending Thanksgiving in Las Vegas waiting to learn who the Bearkats will be facing in their game in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic Friday afternoon.
The Kats' opponent will be either Statson or Bethune-Cookman, depending on the result of the contest between the two squads a 11 p.m. Thursday night in the first round of the Las Vegas tournament.
Bethune-Cookman owns a 2-2 record this season while Stetson stands 1-3. Sam Houston's second round game with either the Hatters or the Wildcats is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon (Huntsville time).
Sam Houston stands 1-3 for the year. The Bearkats defeated Saint Thomas 114-92 and lost to Southern Illinois 86-81 in their only home games. They lost to two nationally-ranked opponents on the road, falling to No. 20 SMU 85-50 in Dallas in the season opener and No. 14 California 89-63 Monday night in Berkeley.
Head coach Jason Hooten believes his team that features eight players whose first NCAA Division I experience was the game against the Mustangs in Dallas two weeks ago continues to improve.
“We've seen some positives in each game,” Hooten said. “This year's schedule is the toughest we've faced since I've been here at Sam Houston. But this stretch is going to help make us better for the Southland Conference. We're still a work in progress. We're working to get better every game.”
A key for the Bearkats is the play of the three players returning from last year's 26-9 team who all saw extensive action as reserves for the 2014-15 squad that finished as Southland Conference runners-up and reached the Southland Tournament finals for the second year in a row.
Junior guard Dakarai Henderson has led the team in scoring each game and sports an 18.8 points per game average. Junior center Aurimas Majauskas averages 13.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard Jamal Williams adds 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds each outing.
Junior college transfers Ameer Jackson, Jalin Barnes and Jovante' Spivey are averaging 11.0, 6.8 and 5.5 points per game, respectively. Torry Barnes leads the Kats with 7.8 rebounds per contest.
After Friday's game in Las Vegas, the Bearkats will return to Huntsville where they will host Wiley College Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
