Clash at Bernard Johnson Coliseum: Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Texas-Arlington Mavericks
As the Sam Houston State Bearkats prepare to host the Texas-Arlington Mavericks at the Bernard Johnson Coliseum, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a riveting encounter. The Bearkats have been showing a mix of performances lately, but there's reason to believe that they could dominate in their upcoming game.
In their last meeting on February 4th, SHSU fell short against UTA with a score of 58-70. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways for SHSU that could play into their hands in the rematch. The Bearkats' two-point shooting was not as efficient as it needed to be, and turnovers played a significant role in their defeat. However, they've had time since then to analyze and adjust their strategy.
The recent victory over Abilene Christian on February 12th showcased SHSU's ability to bounce back with an impressive offensive display, ending the game at 77-62. Their field goal percentage was strong at 55 percent and even more impressive from inside the arc where they shot 60 percent. Dominating points in the paint with 38 and capitalizing on turnovers by scoring 17 points off them indicates that when SHSU controls the ball and focuses on interior scoring, they can dictate games.
Defensively, there is room for improvement; however, securing an average of over five steals per game shows potential for disrupting UTA's offense. Rebounding has also been solid for SHSU; pulling down an average of over 30 rebounds per game gives them multiple second-chance opportunities while limiting those same chances for their opponents.
The Mavericks should not be underestimated though – they have shown resilience and efficiency in previous games against other teams including against SHSU themselves. They will come into this match-up confident after besting SHSU earlier this month.
Fans should expect Coach Hooten's squad to come out with intensity and focus on controlling both ends of the court from tip-off until final buzzer. With home-court advantage this time around and lessons learned from past performances – particularly focusing on reducing turnovers – it would not be surprising if we witness a strong showing from SHSU that could potentially flip the script against UTA.
Bearkat supporters should mark their calendars for February 16th when these two teams face off again at Bernard Johnson Coliseum starting at 6:30 PM CST (local Huntsville time). For those unable to attend in person, you can catch all action live via ESPN+ online broadcast network.