UT travels to Sam Houston State for Sears BracketBuster game
Written by Zach Davis | | zdavis@toledofreepress.comThe Rockets get a break from league play as they travel to Huntsville, Texas, to take on Sam Houston State at 3 p.m. Feb. 18. The game is part of the Sears BracketBuster event.
Curtis Dennis, photo by Nick Kneer
After an upset at Ball State this week, Toledo (12-14, 4-8 Mid-American Conference) is looking to continue its improved play as of late. With just four league games remaining, the Rockets trail Eastern Michigan by two games for the MAC West lead. UT plays three teams with below-.500 conference records before the season finale against the Eagles on March 3.
The Rockets are currently the eighth seed in the 2011 MAC Tournament, which would award them a home game in the new tournament format against the No. 9 seed.
Toledo’s Rian Pearson is the main reason for the team’s recent improvement, winning the MAC West Player of the Week award in the last three weeks. Pearson, who is still the only player in the league in the top 10 in points (16.8), rebounds (8.4) and steals (1.7), is leading the conference in scoring and is fourth in the nation for guards in rebounding. To win the award for a fourth consecutive week, however, Pearson will need to have a big game after scoring just six points with seven rebounds against the Cardinals on Feb. 15.
Curtis Dennis has been effective as well recently off the bench for the Rockets, now second on the team in scoring at 12.8 points per game. The junior guard has scored 49 points in the last three outings.
The Bearkats (11-15, 5-7 Southland Conference) have won three of their last four after dropping four straight. Konner Tucker leads Sam Houston State in scoring (12.2) while Steven Werner is averaging 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
Tags: Curtis Dennis, rian pearson, Rockets basketball, Sam Houston State, Sears BracketBuster game, Zach Davis
