LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The battle for the regular season Conference USA championship is coming down to the wire as Sam Houston embarks on its final two-game road trip of the season.
The Bearkats (15-11, 8-3 CUSA) will have the opportunity to stay at the top of the standings when they face New Mexico State Thursday at the Pan American Center. This is the second meeting between the schools this season with the first matchup seeing Sam Houston knock off the Aggies 79-67 on Jan. 25.
NM State (11-15, 5-6) is currently looking up at the first-place Kats as the league jockeys for seeding position in the postseason tournament which will be played in Huntsville, Alabama March 12-16.
The Bearkats have been tough to crack at home but are 4-9 away from Johnson Coliseum. All three of Sam Houston's CUSA losses have been on the road.
UTEP will be waiting for the Kats on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center. Sam Houston topped the Miners 60-56 on Jan. 27 in Huntsville.
NOTES FROM THE LAST MEETING WITH NM STATE
• The Kats did not need a whole lot from leading scorer
Lamar Wilkerson. The six points he had was the fewest points he has scored since the loss against Texas State on Dec. 15.
•
Davon Barnes led the way with 20 points,
Souleymane Doumbia had 11 points and nine rebounds and
Marcus Boykin added 10 points.
Kian Scroggins also contributed with 7 points and 8 rebounds.
• Sam Houston had 10 more total rebounds than the Aggies, this was the 10th time this has happened this season and the second time the rebounds margin was 10 or more.
• Bench play was huge for Sam Houston, totaling 23 points off the bench, their most since the win against Dallas on Jan. 2.
