Kats open CIT Monday vs EMU
3/18/2018 9:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 34 – CollegeInsider.com Tournament
Monday, March 19 • Huntsville • 6:30 p.m. CT • Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum
Sam Houston State (19-14, 12-6 Southland) vs Eastern Michigan (22-12, 11-7 MAC)
Live Stats • CBS Digital • Tickets • @BearkatsMBB on Twitter
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats will open up their run in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament on Monday when they host Eastern Michigan at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
The game is set for a 6:30 p.m. tip and will be aired by CBS Digital on WatchCIT.com with Matt Pedersen on the call.
The Bearkats bowed out of the Southland Conference tournament in the semifinals just over a week ago before accepting its fourth postseason berth in the past five seasons. Accepting that berth gives the Kats a chance to go after its 20th win of the season on Monday against the Eagles in what would be the sixth 20-win season in eight years under head coach Jason Hooten.
Hooten's squad knocked off New Orleans in the quarterfinals of the Southland Conference Tournamet in Katy behind 25 points and seven 3-point buckets from Josh Delaney, but could not outlast top-seeded Southeastern Louisiana in the championship game. Delaney would go on to represent the Bearkats on the all-tournament squad at the conclusion of the event.
Sam Houston has never squared off with EMU on the hardwood, a team that advanced to Huntsville with an 83-65 win last week at home over Niagara behind a game-high 29 points from Elijah Minnie. The Eagles are making their second ever appearance in the CIT and their first postseason appearance since playing in the CBI at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season.
They earned the No. 3 seed in the MAC Tournament and advanced to the semifinals where they fell to No. 2 Toledo on a Rocket 3-point bucket in the game's final 10 seconds, denying them a chance to play for a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bearkats are 2-3 all-time in the CIT, with every game having been played in Huntsville. Sam Houston last participated in the event in 2016, falling to Jackson State in overtime in the opening round.
