A win is always a good thing.
The Sam Houston State men’s basketball team (10-9, 5-1 Southland), came out on top against Nicholls State winning 87-76 with Jamal Williams as the leading scorer with 17 points Monday.
The sophomore guard is averaging 9.5 points per game but was perfect from the floor, shooting seven shots and connecting on every basket. He also grabbed four rebounds, five assists and was perfect from the free throw line.
Inconsistency with the Bearkats reflects on how a team practices. Being inconsistent before the games during practice most of the time carries into the following game.
“We practice how we play and early in the season we had a lot of inconsistent practices, therefore we weren’t consistent in the games,” Williams said. “Lately we’ve been a lot more locked in during practice and therefore we’re starting to win more games.”
The 5-14 (1-4) Colonels relied on their two top scores last night in Johnathan Bell and T.J. Carpenter. Junior guard Bell averages only eight points for the season but caught on fire against the Bearkats scoring 27 points going 9-for-14 on the floor and 3-for-7 behind the three point arc.
SHSU was able to maintain a lead throughout the game from their accurate shooting from the floor last night. The Bearkats shot 47.5 percent on 59 shot attempts from the floor.
Junior guard Jovante’ Spivey calculated 16 points and was the second leading scorer for the Bearkats. Sophomore forward Albert Almanza finished with 13 points.
SHSU’s second leading scorer for the season Dakarai Henderson decked in 11 points for the Kats.
Bearkats vs. Lumberjacks
The Bearkats will face off against their rivals Stephen F. Austin this weekend in Nacogdoches. The Lumberjacks sit first in the Southland conference at 12-5(5-0) with their senior forward sensation Thomas Walkup being the leading scorer with 16.1 ppg.
“We have to execute the game plan and be ready to defend for 40 minutes,” Williams said. “If we defend the way I know we’re capable of, I think we’ll like the outcome of the game.”
SHSU and SFA sit on top of the conference in scoring defense. The Bearkats allow conference low in 59.5 ppg and the Lumberjacks allow 64.2 ppg.
The Lumberjacks understand what a good shot is
SFA leads the conference in field goal percentage shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and tie the conference high in three point percentage with 38 percent.
To SHSU’s advantage, the Bearkats three point FG percentage defense sits at second in the conference, allowing a 31.9 percent rate behind the arc.
Aurimas Majauskas, Williams, Ameer Jackson, and Henderson all understand what it takes to defeat a good SFA basketball team. From a group effort collectively, the idea seems to be rational but there are things these athletes can do to improve individually.
“I feel like I can and will improve in all aspects of my game individually,” Williams said. “I just have to put the work in. I’m aware that you get out what you put in, so I just have to constantly get in the gym and work on everything.”
The teams will tipoff Saturday at 6:00 p.m.