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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball will look to snap a season-long four-game skid when the Cardinals host Sam Houston State on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. from the McDermott Center.
 
FIRST TIP
 
Last season, the two teams split the season series, with the home team winning each time: 72-63 Bearkat victory on Feb. 11, 2017, followed by a 69-53 win by UIW a week later. SHSU leads the all-time series, 3-2. UIW is 2-1 at home against the Bearkats.

Prior to the game, there will be a short ceremony as senior guard Shawn Johnson will be given a ball to commemorate him becoming the 16th member of the 1,000 Point Club in program history; a feat he accomplished at UTEP on Dec. 19.
 
SCOUTING THE SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS
 
207-18: 7-8 overall, 1-1 SLC
Last Game: W 82-76 vs. Central Arkansas (1/3)
Head Coach: Jason Hooten
Key Players:
#23 Chris Galbreath, Jr. – 15 GP, 15.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 21 ASTS, 6 BLKS, 7 STLS
#11 John Dewey III – 15 GP, 9.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 73 ASTS, 14 STLS
#20 Jamal Williams – 15 GP, 7.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 31 ASTS, 15 STLS
Summary: Sam Houston State snapped a three-game losing skid with an 82-76 victory over visiting Central Arkansas on Jan. 3. The Bearkats improve to 6-1 at Johnson Coliseum, while they are 0-5 on the road. Jamal Williams and Marcus Harris each scored 15 against the Bears.
 
On the season, Chris Galbreath, Jr. leads the Bearkats with 15.5 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per contest. His six blocks are one shy of Bubba Furlong's team high of seven. John Dewey III, who is second on the team with 9.7 points per game, leads the squad with 73 assists, as his 4.9 helpers a game is third-most in the conference. As a team, SHSU is 6th in the conference in scoring margin (+1.3) and T-4th in rebounding margin (+3.3).
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2017-18: 5-7 overall, 0-2 SLC
Last Game: L 77-60 at Nicholls (12/30)
Head Coach: Ken Burmeister
Key Players:
#3 Simi Socks – 12 GP, 12.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7 BLKS, 6 STLS
#4 Christian Peevy – 11.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6 BLKS, 82.8 FT%
#41 Shawn Johnson – 12 GP, 10.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 25 ASTS, 17 BLKS, 27 STLS
Summary: UIW opened Southland Conference play with road losses at McNeese and Nicholls. The loss against the Cowboys makes UIW's record in SLC openers at 0-5, all on the road. The Cardinals are 0-6 away from the McDermott Center this season. UIW looks to win its second-straight conference home opener, after defeating Northwestern State, 84-80, on Jan. 5, 2017.
 
Simi Socks continues to lead UIW in scoring with 12.7 points per game. Christian Peevy paced the Cardinal offense both games last weekend and is currently second on the team with 11.5 points per contest. Shawn Johnson, who will be honored prior to the game for becoming the 16th member of the 1,000 Point Club in program history at UTEP, leads the Cardinals in rebounding (6.5), blocks (17), and steals (27). As a team, UIW is 9th in the conference in scoring margin (-1.3) and 12th in rebounding (-3.5). The Cardinals lead the conference, and are 31st nationally, with 5.3 blocks per game.
 
UP NEXT

UIW returns to the road to face Central Arkansas on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals close the road trip at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. on ESPN3.

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