HBU Huskies (2-9, 1-2 SLC) at Sam Houston Bearkats (10-5, 4-0 SLC)
Saturday, Jan. 16 – 3:30 p.m.
Johnson Coliseum – Huntsville, Texas
TV (ESPN+)
Radio (Husky Sports Network/Lonnie King)
Live Stats
Game Notes
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – HBU will head north on I-45 this Saturday for an afternoon matchup against the Sam Houston Bearkats in Johnson Coliseum with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Husky fans can listen to the audio broadcast on the Husky Sports Network with Lonnie King providing play-by-play available at HBUHuskies.com and can also watch on ESPN+.
The last two seasons, when the Huskies (2-9, 1-2 SLC) and Bearkats (10-5, 4-0 SLC) have met in Huntsville the games have been exciting affairs. Last season, the Huskies trailed by nine with just 1:12 left on the clock but pulled to within two with 25 seconds to go. HBU then had a possession with 10 seconds on the clock while trailing by three, ultimately falling 77-73. Two seasons ago, HBU went on a frantic 30-5 run over the final 5:17 of clock in regulation to overcome a 25-point deficit and send the game to overtime. The Huskies eventually lost that game in double overtime, 119-113.
HBU has lost its last two games after opening Southland play with a win over Northwestern State. After falling to Abilene Christian by three, the Huskies lost their first SLC road game last Saturday at Lamar, 71-65. In the game against the Cardinals, the two teams were tied at the half before the Huskies took a nine-point lead in the first four minutes of the second half but Lamar was able to regain the lead and hold HBU at bay.
Junior
Pedro Castro continued his strong start to SLC play by posting his third-consecutive double-double at LU and is the lone player in the conference averaging a double-double in SLC games. As a team, the Huskies continue to be among the nation's better three-point shooting teams, ranking 24
th among all NCAA Division I teams with a 39.1 percent (102-of-261) mark from behind the arc for the season. HBU has shot at least 40 percent from three-point range four times so far this year.
The Bearkats have won their last seven games for a perfect start to conference play with three of their SLC victories coming on the road. Most recently, SHSU defeated Lamar on its home floor by a score of 96-71. Junior Zach Nutall finished that game with a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds while senior Demarkus Lampley added 17.
Nutall and Lampley have been the team's primary scoring threats all season with Nutall averaging 19.5 ppg and Lampley adding 14.4 ppg. Nutall and junior Tristan Ikpe are tied for the team lead on the boards with 5.3 rpg. The Bearkats have ramped up their attempts from three since SLC play started, averaging 30.8 attempts from deep in conference play after taking 23.7 per game in non-conference games. SHSU is shooting 43.1 percent from three in its four conference contests.
The Huskies return to Sharp Gym for their next two games beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 20, for a matchup against Nicholls with McNeese scheduled to come to town on Saturday, Jan. 23.
