Southland Notebook: Conference hoops action inching closer

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January 6, 2009

SLC lands 17 players on TSN All-American team

By Cody Stark The Huntsville Item Tue Jan 06, 2009, 11:59 PM CST

With nonconference basketball action winding down this week, it’s finally time for Southland Conference men’s basketball teams to start gearing up for the beginning of league action this weekend. But before all the attention turns to conference play, here’s a rundown of how the SLC has fared going into today’s final nonconference matchups.

While there have been some quality wins and showings by the SLC in nonconference action, there are two that stick out the most. Lamar was able to knock off the Big 12’s Texas Tech (10-5) 85-79 in Beaumont. Texas A&M-Corpus; Christi also toppled one of the big boys when the Islanders came away with an 80-79 victory on the road at Southeastern Conference foe Georgia (9-6).

There have also been some wins over some Conference USA teams, but Rice and SMU are a combined 10-16 on the season and wouldn’t exactly tear things up if both were in the SLC.

As it stands today, the Southland is 83-73 overall against teams outside of the league.

Stephen F. Austin, Lamar and Texas-San Antonio have the Southland’s best nonconference records heading into league play. The Lumberjacks, the favorites in the East Division, are 8-4, while the Cardinals, one of the top contenders in the East, are a league best 9-4. The Roadrunners, who have a five-game winning streak, are right behind Lamar in the East at 8-4.

SFA, Lamar and UTSA are all done with nonconference play. The Jacks open SLC action with a home game against Sam Houston State on Saturday at 2 p.m., UTSA hosts McNeese State at 4 and the Cardinals welcome Southeastern Louisiana at 7:05.

The rest of the East and West Divisions are pretty close.

Texas State sits at 7-6 behind Lamar and UTSA, followed by Texas-Arlington (6-6), SHSU (6-7) and Texas A&M-Corpus; Christi (6-9). UTA is the only East team with a nonconference game left on the road at UT-Pan American tonight.

The West has three other teams heading into SLC action with winning records. Northwestern State is 8-7 and Nicholls State and Central Arkansas are both 7-6. Southeastern Louisiana went 6-7 in nonconference, while McNeese State will try to match the Lions with a win over Wiley College tonight.

In other SLC matchups Saturday, UTA travels to Texas State (4 p.m.), Nicholls visits Northwestern (4 p.m.) and Corpus hosts Central Arkansas (7 p.m.).

Kats, Jacks game to be televised

The Sam Houston State men’s basketball game against Stephen F. Austin will mark the hoops debut of the Southland Conference Television Network on Saturday. The 2 p.m. tipoff can be seen locally on Houston’s KTBU, Channel 55.

SLC football well represented on All-American teams

The Southland Conference landed 17 players on The Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision All-American teams this week.

Leading the way was regular-season SLC champ Texas State (5-2 in SLC, 9-4 overall) with four selections. Bobcats senior wide receiver Cameron Luke was tabbed to the third-team offense. Running back Karrington Bush, guard Jeff Bowen and place kicker Andrew Ireland were honorable mention picks.

Central Arkansas, McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin each had three players make the lists.

Bears tight end Marquez Branson was a first-team All-American and defensive end Larry Hart was a second-team selection. Quarterback Nathan Brown, the two-time defending Southland Player of the Year, made the TSN third team. Central Arkansas finished with the best record in the SLC at 10-2 and 6-1 in league play, but were not eligible to win the conference title.

McNeese State guard Eman Naghavi was a third-team pick, while running back Toddrick Pendland and tackle Kyle Link were both honorable mention.

SFA wide receiver Dominique Edison was a third-team pick and fullback Contrevious Parks and defensive end Tim Knicky were honorable mention.

Nicholls State had one player on the All-America squad but he made the list twice. Safety Lardarius Webb was selected to the first-team defense and was an honorable mention kick returner.

Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State all had one selection on the TSN teams. Lions safety Tommy Connors was named to the second-team defense. Bearkats punter Derrick Raymer and Northwestern State place kicker Robert Weeks were honorable mention.

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