Kats Kick Off Cayman Island Classic at No. 19 Clemson, Georgia
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State men’s basketball team is set to embark on an eight-day road trip that will see games at No. 19 Clemson (Nov. 14) and Georgia (Nov. 18) to begin the 2018 Cayman Island Classic.
Wednesday’s game against the Tigers is slated for 6 p.m. (Central) at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C., and Friday’s matchup at Georgia will begin at 6 p.m. (Central) at
GAME 4 – SHSU (2-1, 0-0 SLC) at No. 19 Clemson (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Date & Time: Wednesday, Nov. 14 • 6 p.m. (Central)
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Site: Littlejohn Coliseum
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SHSU MBB: Game Notes | 2018-19 Quick Facts | 2018-19 Record Book | MBB Home Page
GAME 5 – SHSU (2-1, 0-0 SLC) at Georgia (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Date & Time: Friday, Nov. 16 • 6 p.m. (Central)
Location: Athens, Ga.
Site: Stegeman Coliseum
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SHSU MBB: Game Notes | 2018-19 Quick Facts | 2018-19 Record Book | MBB Home Page
Bearkat Bites
- Reaching double-digit points in all three of the Bearkats’ games, senior Cameron Delaney led the Sam Houston State squad to a pair of wins and a narrow loss in the opening week of the 2018-19 season. He kicked off the season with a career-high, 21-point performance in the Kats’ season-opening win over ETBU, going 8-for-14 in the field. He reached double-digits in the Kats’ 94-56 win over Southwestern. He sunk two field goals and went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line for 10 points against the Pirates. Against Louisiana Tech, he went off for 20 points where he shot .500 from the field and drilled 8-of-11 free throws. His efforts helped SHSU overcome an 18-point deficit and take a three-point lead midway through the second half. Delaney ranks second in the league with 51 total points.
- Senior Josh Delaney played his 101st game in a Bearkat uniform in the squad’s trip to Louisiana Tech on Friday, Nov. 11. Veteran Albert Almanza is the only other Bearkat nearing the 100-game mark with 93 appearances in his career.
- Stepping onto the court for his first season with the Bearkats, freshman Zach Nutall is one of three freshmen to rank in the SLC’s top-10 scorers. Nutall posted back-to-back double-digit games, racking up 15 points against Southwestern (Nov. 8) and 10 points at Louisiana Tech (Nov. 11). The newcomer is second on the team with 33 points while averaging 11 points per game.
- Thanks to a 94-56 victory over Southwestern (Texas) on Thursday, Nov. 8, head coach Jason Hooten earned his 160th career victory. All of his wins have come from Sam Houston State after he took over the helm in 2010. Hooten is the third-winningest coach in program history behind Bob Marlin (225-131) and Archie Porter (189-124).
- The Bearkats will face several new opponents in the Cayman Island Classic. Sam Houston preps for inaugural meetings with Clemson and Georgia. The Bearkats continue action in the Cayman Island Classic against Jackson State and the team will face either Chicago State or East Tennessee State in the final round of the tournament. Sam Houston is 1-0 all-time against East Tennessee State, 0-1 against Jackson State and the squad would face Chicago State for the first time in program history.
- Averaging 43.5 rebounds per game, Sam Houston leads the Southland Conference with 136 boards. Junior transfer Kai Mitchell leads the league with 24 rebounds while newcomer RJ Smith ranks fourth with 21.
- Senior Josh Delaney is just four treys away from moving into eighth all-time in the Sam Houston record book for career three-pointers. He currently sits ninth overall with 144 made threes and is on pace to surpass No. 8 Boney Watson’s mark at 147 career three-pointers.
- Wednesday’s matchup will be the first-ever meeting between the Bearkats and Tigers. In its 101st year of basketball, Sam Houston State is 0-5 against current ACC opponents. The Bearkats are 0-1 against NC State, Miami
and Georgia Tech and are 0-2 all-time against Notre Dame. - Making an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball, junior transfer Chad Bowie leads the Southland Conference with eight steals. He picked up five steals in the Kats’ season opener against East Texas Baptist, brought in one against Southwestern (Texas) and tallied two steals at Louisiana Tech.
Series History
Clemson – This will be the first meeting between the Bearkats and Tigers.
Georgia – This will be the first meeting between the Bearkats and Bulldogs.
Final Details
Tip-off at Clemson is scheduled for 6 p.m. (Central) on Wednesday, Nov. 14 and the Kats’ matchup ag Georgia is set to begin at 6 p.m. (Central) on Friday, Nov. 16. Live stats, as well as live video streams, will be available for both games. For all the latest information on the Sam Houston State men’s basketball team, visit gobearkats.com or follow @BearkatsMBB on Twitter.
