Southland Men's Basketball Teams Enter Last Full Week of Non-Conference Play
The Southland Conference has 10 games remaining in 2009 before ushering in the new year with a pair of games Friday and eight games Saturday. UTSA plays host to Houston on New Year's Day at 1 p.m. and McNeese State is at Texas Tech later that afternoon at 3 p.m. The league will play 30 non-conference games between Monday and Jan. 5. Southland Conference play begins on Saturday, Jan. 9. UTSA has the best record in the league at 8-2, while Sam Houston State is 8-3. Those teams lead the West Division entering the final week of non-conference action. The East Division leader is Stephen F. Austin, which is 7-3. Southeastern Louisiana is 7-4.
UT Arlington's Haynes Named Player of the Week
UT Arlington guard Marquez Haynes was named the Southland Conference men's basketball player of the week on Monday after he scored 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 101-85 victory over Texas Wesleyan Dec. 22. The senior from Irving, Texas (Irving), made 10-of-14 shots from the floor (71.4 percent), including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and made 9-of-10 shots at the free-throw line. He also had two assists and two steals in helping the Mavericks improve to 5-4 this season. It was the fourth 30-point game of the season for Haynes, who is averaging 25.2 points per game to lead the Southland Conference and rank fourth nationally. Haynes was the conference player of the week Dec. 7 and is the first repeat winner this season.
Sam Houston State Riding Conference's Longest Win Streak
Sam Houston State is riding a three-game win streak after beating Florida International, 93-63, last Tuesday. The Bearkats opened the streak with a 69-40 victory over Ecclesia College and followed with a 107-89 victory at Auburn Dec. 20. UTSA is the only other team riding a win streak. The Roadrunners have won their last two games, both against Texas-Pan American. Six other teams have won their last game.
Six 100-Point Games in the Southland
There have been six 100-point games in the Southland Conference this season. Four have come in December and three have happened since Dec. 20 when Sam Houston won 107-89 at Auburn. Stephen F. Austin beat East Central Oklahoma, 102-68, last Tuesday, the same night UT Arlington beat Texas Wesleyan 101-85. McNeese State, UTSA and Texas State also have topped 100 this season.