Guest abovetherim Posted January 18, 2008 Report Posted January 18, 2008 By Bob West The Port Arthur News BEAUMONT — Given the events of last March in the Southland Conference tournament, Sam Houston State’s Bob Marlin shouldn’t have any problem lighting a fire under his team for tonight’s Southland Conference clash with Lamar in the Montange Center. Just to make sure, however, Marlin says he’ll mention two numbers to his players. The numbers are 52 and 99. They represent Lamar’s lowest and highest point totals of the 2006-07 season, and both were posted against the Bearkats. SHS embarrassed the Cardinals, 88-52, in January in Huntsville, then saw LU crush its NCAA tournament hopes, 99-98, two months later in the first round of the SLC tourney. “It was a tough loss,†said Marlin, of the setback that ended his team’s season at 21-10. “They played a great game. (Currye) Todd hit shots from everywhere and (Lamar) Sanders was tremendous. (Darren) Hopkins made a play at the end to win the game that I don’t think anybody else on their team could have made.†That thrilling victory was one of the few highlights Lamar’s managed against Sam Houston in Marlin’s 10 seasons, and adding another tonight will be difficult. The Bearkats roll into town 14-2, are ranked No. 7 in the CollegeInsider.Com mid major poll and are fresh off a 64-49 thumping of McNeese State in Lake Charles. It’s basically just more of the same for a program that has produced more wins in this decade than any school in the Lone Star State not named the University of Texas. The Bearkats record in the 21st century is 163-111 and they are stalking their third consecutive 20-victory season. Lamar has been on the short end of more than its fair share of Marlin’s success. Prior to the shocker in the Southland tournament, the Bearkats had won 7 of 8 against Cardinal teams. Overall, Marlin is 11-6 against LU. He is, however, only 1-1 against second-year Cardinal coach Steve Roccaforte as they approach Saturday night. And he expects the Cardinals, who are coming off an 81-75 loss Thursday night in Nacogdoches, to come at the Bearkats like a team on a mission. “Roc has a group that can beat anybody on a given night,†Marlin said. “They are talented and dangerous and have the kind of athletes who can put a lot of pressure on an opposing team. I know he’ll have them ready to play.†Roccaforte can only hope his troops are ready to play from the opening tip, as opposed to getting geeked up sometime in the second half. The Cardinals once again stumbled through at opening half against SFA, fell 19 points behind early in the second half, then closed within three before running out of time. “It was just like our previous two home games,†he said. “We came out in the second half with a different intensity in everything we did. Once our intensity level changed, it made our defense work and that made our offense work.†Indeed it did. After scoring only 24 points the first half, LU put up 51 in the second half against an SFA team that was allowing less than 54 per game. Kenny Dawkins spearheaded the comeback by scoring 20 of his 23 points in the second half. The Cardinals would do well not to dig themselves into a hole against Sam Houston State. The Bearkats are No. 2 in the SLC in scoring defense at 57.3, No. 2 in field goal percentage defense at 36.9 and No. 1 in 3-point field goal defense at 27.3 Despite what happened last March — against a Cardinal team that had help from the likes of since departed Brandon Chappell and James Davis — prolific offensive outbursts against the Bearkats are unusual. Sam Houston’s 14-2 record includes wins at home over Fresno State, Cal Irvine and Texas Tech. They suffered a one-point loss in overtime at San Diego State, on a tipin at the buzzer, and were ambushed by Southeastern Louisiana in Huntsville in the SLC opener. Forward Ryan Bright, who has seemingly played for the Bearkats forever, and guard Shamir McDaniel are the key cogs for SHS. Bright, a 6-6 senior from Deer Park, has had eight double-doubles and is averaging a double-double with 11.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Although he really doesn’t look like a rebounder, he’s No. 3 in the nation in that category. He lit up the Cardinals for 31 points in the 99-98 game. McDaniel, a 6-1 senior from San Antonio, averages 12.8 and is No. 3 in the SLC in 3-point field goal percentage (.469) and No. 5 in 3-pointers per game (2.53). The Bearkats have gotten a boost from the return 6-8 John Gardiner, who was a starter two years ago. Gardiner sat out last season with an ACL injury. Guard DeLuis Ramirez is also becoming more and more of a force for Marlin. LU-SHS Fact Box • When: Saturday, 7 p.m. • Where: Montagne Center (10,080), Beaumont • Records: SHS 2-1, 14-2; LU 1-1, 7-8 • Series: LU leads 26-21 • Last meeting: LU 99-98 on March 8, 2009 in Aldine • Radio: KVLI (560-AM) • Probable starters: SHS — Ryan Bright 6-6, Sr. (10.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg); John Gardiner 6-8, Sr. (5.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Jeremy Thomas 5-10, Sr. (6.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg); DeLuis Ramirez 6-4, Jr. (10.1 pg, 4.5 rpg); Shamir McDaniel 6-1, Sr. (12.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg). LU: Lamar Sanders 6-6, Sr. (11.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg); Justin Nabors 6-6, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Kenny Dawkins 5-9, Jr. (14.4 ppg, 4.4 apg); Lawrence Nwevo 6-8, Jr. (5.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg); Matthew Barrow 6-4, Sr. (8.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg). • SHS fast fact: Bearkats 6-6 senior Ryan Bright ranks No. 3 in the nation in rebounding at 11.4. • LU fast fact: In splitting two games against the Bearkats last year, Lamar scored its fewest points in a game (52) and its most points in a game (99). http://www.panews.com/sports/local_story_018235127.html?start:int=15
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