Kats on the bye line as they head to UCA
2/27/2018 6:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game 30
Wednesday, Feb. 28 • Conway, Ark. • 7:00 p.m. CT • Farris Center
Sam Houston State (18-11, 12-4 Southland) at Central Arkansas (14-15, 8-8 Southland)
Live Stats • Watch • @BearkatsMBB on Twitter
CONWAY, Ark. - The Sam Houston State Bearkats can clinch at least a first-round bye in the Southland Conference Tournament on Wednesday when the Bearkats travel to Conway, Ark. To take on the University of Central Arkansas.
In the final road game on the regular season schedule, Sam Houston State University is tied with Stephen F. Austin for third in the conference standings and looking to move up towards the number two position. Meanwhile, Central Arkansas is looking to play spoiler as they are trying to solidify their position at number seven standing in the conference.
Wednesday's game can be listened to on 90.5 KSHU with Jordan Smith and Josh Painter on the call. Live stats will also be available via SideArm Sports and fans can get updates as they happen by following @BearaktsMBB on Twitter.
The Bearkats broke a tie with New Orleans on Feb. 21 in a close 57-54 victory to place them one game ahead of the Privateers in the standings. With a SHSU win and a loss by UNO, the Bearkats would officially clinch a first-round bye in the Southland Conference Tournament in early March in Katy, Texas, and would also mathematically eliminate a top three finish for UNO in the final season standings.
Men's basketball Head Coach Jason Hooten knows that the fight still has not been won just yet.
“I think there is five teams fighting for four spots,” Hooten said. “We've got a lot of basketball left. I know we only have two games, but those two games are against really good teams- one of which is at Central Arkansas which is a hard place to play and of course the last game of the season here at home against our arch rival SFA. A lot of work to be done, a lot of meat left on the bone.”
The last time that the Bearkats and UCA met back on Jan. 3, SHSU took the victory in Huntsville by a final of 82-76. Top performers in that previous contest was Marcus Harris and Jamal Williams, who finished tied a top the leaderboard with 15 points each. Harris in 21 minutes of play shot 4-for-6 from the three-point line, grabbed one rebound and two assists. Williams, in 29 minutes of play, brought down eight rebounds as well as five assists and two steals on the night.
For Central Arkansas, the Bears are looking to stay in contention for that fourth seed in the conference. Good play and some luck is what UCA is looking for in their final two games of the season before the conference tournament. The Bears are coming off a 74-72 victory over Abilene Christian University back on Feb. 24 in Abilene.
Junior shooting guard Thatch Unruh was the leader of the Bears in the last meeting back in Huntsville. Unruh grabbed a double-double in the game, scoring 10 points and getting 11 rebounds - five of which were offensive rebounds - and six assists.
SERIES VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS
The Kats lead the all-time series against the Bears at 14-2 overall, with SHSU leading 6-2 at Central Arkansas. The last time the Bearkats won in Central Arkansas was back on Feb 29 in an 83-73 victory. Sam Houston finished with an overall record of 18-16 (12-6 SLC), good for third in the Southland Conference Tournament.
