Bearkats Host Jackson State Monday
3/13/2016 10:16:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sam Houston and Jackson State, two teams eliminated from their conference tournaments by buzzer-beating baskets, will meet in a CollegeInsider.com Tournament post-season first round game Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
The Bearkats fell 79-76 to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Friday night after an Islander three-pointer with seven seconds left. Jackson State lost to Southern 54-53 on a last second basket Saturday in the finals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
The game marks Sam Houston's third consecutive appearance in NCAA Division I post-season play in the CIT. The Bearkats finished third in the Southland Conference this season, the team's ninth Southland top three finish in the last 11 years.
“We're excited to be playing in the post-season again,” Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten. “We're proud of how this team has been able to overcome adversity and finish strong with another great record this year. This is a group of high character young men who deserve the opportunity.”
The Kats have made a strong run at the end of the year after overcoming early season adversity. Sam Houston has won six of its last nine games to stand 18-15 overall. Losing preseason All-Southland Conference point guard Paul Baxter for the year before the schedule began and his backup, transfer Ameer Jackson, after four games, the Kats bounced back for a strong campaign.
The team earned its 14th consecutive Southland Conference tournament berth – the longest streak of consecutive appearances in the event by any league member. Sam Houston was the number three seed.
Sam Houston's appearance in the Southland semifinals against the Islanders marked the fourth consecutive year the Kats have been among the final four teams in the event. In 15 appearances in the Southland tournament since 2000, Sam Houston has reached the semifinals or better 12 times.
With no starters returning from last year's 26-9 squad that reached the CIT second round, three reserve players stepped up as starters this year. Juniors Aurimas Majauskas and Dakarai Henderson lead the team with scoring averages of 14.2 points each. Both were 2016 All-Southland Conference selections.
Sophomore Jamal Williams adds 9.3 points per game and ranks high in the Southland with 4.7 assists per game as the Kats' point guard. Transfer Jovante' Spivey and red-shirt freshman Albert Almanza have posted scoring averages of 8.4 and 6.8 points per game, respectively.
Jackson State brings a 19-15 record to the game Monday night. Raeford Worsham, who scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the championship final, leads JSU.
Two years ago, Sam Houston defeated Alabama State 71-49 in the CIT first round and lost to San Diego 77-72 in the second round. Last season, the Bearkats knocked off UNC-Wilmington 87-71 in the CIT first round before falling 71-70 to Louisiana-Lafayette.
