Jan. 26, 2010

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** After a 92-97 overtime loss to Texas State on Saturday, the Cardinals conclude their first swing through the SLC West Division with road games at Sam Houston State and UTSA this week.

** LU's last visit to Huntsville resulted in a 60-57 upset win over the Bearkats in a game that SHSU entered tied for first in the SLC West Division, and Lamar was without leading scorer and all-SLC performer Kenny Dawkins.

** Lamar leads the 50-game series 28-22. The schools have played nine games that have been decided by 3 points or less, with five of those coming in the last eight meetings.

** Lamar is 8-3 this season when scoring at least 74 points, 8-1 when leading at the half, 8-3 when shooting better from the floor and 8-2 when blocking more shots than the opposition.

** Lamar's last two victories came when it trailed at the half. Prior to the come-from-behind win over UTA, the Cards had lost 21-straight when down at the break. They are 2-9 when trailing at the break this year and 8-1 when leading. LU has trailed at the half in all five SLC games - by 14 at SLU, three vs. UTA, one vs. McNeese, 10 at AMCC and 1 vs. Texas State.

Key Player Updates

Anthony Miles - G

Leads the team in scoring (14.3), assists (3.7), steals (1.4), minutes (34.7), 3-point FG pct. (.407), 3- pointers made (1.2), 3-pointers attempted (2.7), FT made (4.4) and FT attempts (5.8). He and UTA's Marquez Haynes are the only players in the SLC to rank among the top 10 in scoring and assists, while Miles also appears among the leaders in 3-point pct. and minutes.

Miles has scored in double figures 15 times and has four 20-plus point games. He scored 25 points in the win over McNeese 11 days ago after just 16 in the three previous games. He has gone 3-for-8 from outside in the last two games after an 0-for-7 stretch in the previous four contests. He also has three double- doubles this year and five in his career.

Justin Nabors - F

Leads the SLC and ranks 28th in the NCAA in rebounds (9.9), while leading LU in FG pct. (.517), FG made (5.3), FG attempts (10.2), while ranking second in scoring (13.9) and blocked shots (0.8). Has scored in double figures 15 times, 12-straight and 14 of the last 16. Has posted five of his SLC-leading nine double-doubles in the last seven games and is averaging 17.6 ppg and 10.4 rpg in SLC play.

He is two rebounds shy of being one of 24 players in the country to average a double-double.

Kendrick Harris - G

Third on the team in scoring (12.3), second in assists (2.8), steals (1.3) and minutes (32.5). He has produced 11 double-figure scoring games, including nine of the last 12. Currently averaging 13.6 ppg in the last 12 contests.

Has gone 7-for-12 (.583) from 3-point range in the past four games, after just 7-for-42 (.167) in the previous 16. Tied his season-high with three steals at AMCC on Wednesday and again vs. Texas State on Saturday.

Series History

This will be the 51st meeting between Lamar and Sam Houston with the Cardinals holding a 28-22 all-time series advantage. Lamar is 19-7 in games played in Beaumont, 8-14 in Huntsville and 1-1 on a neutral court.

The series has turned into one of the more competitive rivalries in the league in recent years. Lamar has won three of the last four contests, which have featured three one-possession games and a pair of overtime outings. Three years ago, Lamar won on a Darren Hopkins layup as time expired in the first round of the SLC Tournament. In 2008, the Cardinals recorded a 93-90 overtime win in Beaumont. Last season SHSU claimed a 112-105 double-overtime victory in Beaumont before Lamar upset the first-place Bearkats 60-57 in Huntsville on Feb. 18. Since returning to the SLC, Lamar is 8-12 vs. Sam Houston.

About Sam Houston State

Sam Houston State is 12-5 thus far and off to a 4-0 start in Southland Conference play. The Bearkats enter the game tied for first overall with A&MCorpus Christi (5-0). SHSU has won four-straight after dropping consecutive road games at Western Michigan (74-73). They are 5-1 at home this season with their lone loss coming to Louisiana-Lafayette (95-85) on Dec. 5.

The team is led by the backcourt duo of Corey Allmond and Ashton Mitchell, along with junior college transfer Gilberto Clavell. Allmond (16.1 ppg) and Mitchell (11.9 ppg) are currently the highest scoring guard duo at SHSU in the last 22 years, averaging 28.0 points per game. They went for 27.8 ppg a year ago. Clavell is fourth in the SLC in scoring at 16.4 ppg and is fifth in FG pct. at 54.0 pct. He also leads the team with 6.5 rpg.

The Bearkats lead the nation in assists (20.6 apg) and are second in assists-to-turnover ratio (1.7), while also ranking high in the NCAA in scoring (34th), 3-point FG pct. (25th) and 3-pointers made (9th). SHSU averages 8.8 made triple a game and has made at least nine in seven outings.

Defense has been a large part of the team's success. In its 12 victories, SHSU has held opponents to 61.7 points and a field goal pct. of .386. In the Bearkats' five losses, opponents have averaged 87.8 points and shot .572.

Bob Marlin is in his 12th season in Huntsville and is the school's winningest coach, fashioning a 212-128 record.

Like A Good Nabors

Senior Justin Nabors is averaging 13.9 points and 9.9 rebounds, while recording an SLC-high nine double-doubles and 10 double-digit rebound games. He has missed an additional two double-doubles by just one rebound as well. In five conference games, the Holly Springs, Miss. native is putting up 17.6 points and 10.4 boards per contest. He is shooting 55.2 pct. in league play.

He has scored 604 points for a 12.3 career scoring average. He also has 384 rebounds to put his board averages at 7.8 rpg, which is on pace to finish among the school's top-15.

Lamar In The NCAA Stats

In the most recent NCAA statistics that were released on Monday, Lamar is ranked in the top half of the country in five team categories. LU is 33rd in rebound margin (+5.8), 89th in blocked shots (4.2), 94th in assists (14.4), 132ns in 3-point FG defense (.331) and 137th in scoring offense (70.8).

Individually, Justin Nabors is 28th in rebounds (9.9) and 66th in field goal pct. (51.7), Charlie Harper is 145th in rebounding (7.6), Coy Custer is 88th in blocked shots (1.7) and Anthony Miles is 190th in assists (3.7).

Where The Points Are Coming From

Lamar is averaging 40.7 points per game on 2- point field goals which translates to 59.3 pct of its scoring and ranks 26th in the country. LU is getting 25.2 pct of its offense from the free throw line which is 22nd nationally.

The Cardinals' shooting percentages may also be misleading because, while the team is shooting just 28.3 percent from outside, they are connecting on 47.9 pct. of their shots from inside the arc. They are shooting 43.5 on the season overall.