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DATE & TIME: Sunday, March 12th, 2:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Prather Coliseum (3,400) -- Natchitoches, Louisiana. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Sam Houston St. 14-2, Northwestern St. 13-0. Away Record: Sam Houston St. 7-6, Northwestern St. 10-6. Neutral Record: Sam Houston St. 1-0, Northwestern St. 1-1. Conference Record: Sam Houston St. 11-5, Northwestern St. 15-1. Series Record: Northwestern State leads, 25-23.
GAME NOTES: The 2006 Southland Conference Tournament title is up for grabs, as the top-seeded Northwestern State Demons take on the second-seeded San Houston State Bearkats. The Demons opened tournament play with a solid 75-61 victory over eighth-seeded Texas-San Antonio, and then moved into the championship round with an 80-66 win over sixth-seeded Lamar. The Demons are extremely tough to beat at home, going 28-2 since the beginning of last season, and that includes a 13-0 mark at the Prather Coliseum this year. As for the Bearkats, they have won five of their last six games and that includes tournament wins over Texas-Arlington (86-84) in double overtime, and Stephen F. Austin State, (78-72). Sam Houston State finished the year with a solid 22-8 overall mark, which included an 11-5 record in conference action. The Bearkats won the Southland title back in 2003, but the team is an even 7-7 all-time in this postseason gathering. Sam Houston State was the only team able to defeat Northwestern State in league play this season, posting a 77-68 victory over the Demons. Despite the loss, Northwestern State holds a narrow 25-23 in the all-time series.
Sam Houston State has played extremely well this season, especially at the offensive end where it is averaging 74.1 ppg on 45.8 percent shooting from the field. The team has turned it up another notch here in the postseason, netting 82.0 ppg so far in the tournament, and in their semifinal-round victory over Stephen F. Austin, the Bearkats shot 48.0 percent from the field en route to a 78-point performance. The team made 8-of-20 shots from long range in the win, and connected on 22-of-32 shots from the foul line. Jejuan Plair poured in 29 points in the victory, while Ryan Bright tallied 20 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Chris Jordan chipped in 10 points, while John Gardiner posted nine points and nine boards. On the season, Jordan leads the team with 14.4 ppg, while Plair checks in with 12.2 ppg. Bright puts up 11.3 ppg for the Bearkats and is also averaging a team-best 7.9 rpg.
The Demons have been tremendous at both ends of the floor this season, and that strong play has continued in this tournament, as they are averaging 77.5 ppg during the postseason, while surrendering just 63.5 ppg. In their semifinal-round victory over Lamar, the Demons held the Cardinals to a meager 33.3 percent shooting effort, which included a 6-of-19 showing from long range. Offensively, Northwestern State shot 43.5 percent from the floor and connected on 15-of-20 shots from the foul line. Clifton Lee led the way with 12 points, while Tyronn Mitchell added 10 points and 10 assists. Luke Rogers also chipped in 10 points in the victory. Lee was the only player to average double-digit points throughout the year for Northwestern State, as the forward is netting 13.9 ppg to go with his 6.5 rpg.
Both teams have played exceptionally well at the offensive end, but the Demons have played much better defensively, and that will be the difference as Northwestern State claims the Southland's top prize and earns its way into the NCAA Tournament.
Northwestern State 77, Sam Houston State 69
DATE & TIME: Sunday, March 12th, 2:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Prather Coliseum (3,400) -- Natchitoches, Louisiana. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Sam Houston St. 14-2, Northwestern St. 13-0. Away Record: Sam Houston St. 7-6, Northwestern St. 10-6. Neutral Record: Sam Houston St. 1-0, Northwestern St. 1-1. Conference Record: Sam Houston St. 11-5, Northwestern St. 15-1. Series Record: Northwestern State leads, 25-23.
GAME NOTES: The 2006 Southland Conference Tournament title is up for grabs, as the top-seeded Northwestern State Demons take on the second-seeded San Houston State Bearkats. The Demons opened tournament play with a solid 75-61 victory over eighth-seeded Texas-San Antonio, and then moved into the championship round with an 80-66 win over sixth-seeded Lamar. The Demons are extremely tough to beat at home, going 28-2 since the beginning of last season, and that includes a 13-0 mark at the Prather Coliseum this year. As for the Bearkats, they have won five of their last six games and that includes tournament wins over Texas-Arlington (86-84) in double overtime, and Stephen F. Austin State, (78-72). Sam Houston State finished the year with a solid 22-8 overall mark, which included an 11-5 record in conference action. The Bearkats won the Southland title back in 2003, but the team is an even 7-7 all-time in this postseason gathering. Sam Houston State was the only team able to defeat Northwestern State in league play this season, posting a 77-68 victory over the Demons. Despite the loss, Northwestern State holds a narrow 25-23 in the all-time series.
Sam Houston State has played extremely well this season, especially at the offensive end where it is averaging 74.1 ppg on 45.8 percent shooting from the field. The team has turned it up another notch here in the postseason, netting 82.0 ppg so far in the tournament, and in their semifinal-round victory over Stephen F. Austin, the Bearkats shot 48.0 percent from the field en route to a 78-point performance. The team made 8-of-20 shots from long range in the win, and connected on 22-of-32 shots from the foul line. Jejuan Plair poured in 29 points in the victory, while Ryan Bright tallied 20 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Chris Jordan chipped in 10 points, while John Gardiner posted nine points and nine boards. On the season, Jordan leads the team with 14.4 ppg, while Plair checks in with 12.2 ppg. Bright puts up 11.3 ppg for the Bearkats and is also averaging a team-best 7.9 rpg.
The Demons have been tremendous at both ends of the floor this season, and that strong play has continued in this tournament, as they are averaging 77.5 ppg during the postseason, while surrendering just 63.5 ppg. In their semifinal-round victory over Lamar, the Demons held the Cardinals to a meager 33.3 percent shooting effort, which included a 6-of-19 showing from long range. Offensively, Northwestern State shot 43.5 percent from the floor and connected on 15-of-20 shots from the foul line. Clifton Lee led the way with 12 points, while Tyronn Mitchell added 10 points and 10 assists. Luke Rogers also chipped in 10 points in the victory. Lee was the only player to average double-digit points throughout the year for Northwestern State, as the forward is netting 13.9 ppg to go with his 6.5 rpg.
Both teams have played exceptionally well at the offensive end, but the Demons have played much better defensively, and that will be the difference as Northwestern State claims the Southland's top prize and earns its way into the NCAA Tournament.
Northwestern State 77, Sam Houston State 69
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