Bears and Bearkats collide in South Regional action

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/18/2010 - New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing in their second NCAA Tournament in the last three seasons, the Baylor Bears will tangle with the Sam Houston State Bearkats in first round action of the South Region at New Orleans Arena this afternoon.

The Bearkats set a school record this season for wins, grabbing 25 victories, surpassing the team's previous high of 23 set back in 2003 and 2008. The Bearkats claimed the regular-season and the tournament title in the Southland Conference, earning them just their second trip to the NCAA Tournament. The only other appearance for Sam Houston State in this event came in 2003 and the team was promptly dismissed by Florida in the first round, 85-55.

As for the Bears, this will be their sixth appearance in the Big Dance, and the second in the last three seasons. However, Baylor is just 3-7 all-time in this tournament. This season the Bears racked up an impressive 25-7 ledger and finished 11-5 in Big 12 action, The team's reward was the third seed in the South Region, which is the highest seed in Baylor's history.

In regard to the all-time series between the two schools on the hardwood, the Bears currently hold a 6-3 edge over Sam Houston State.

The winner of this contest will move into the second round where they will face either Notre Dame or Old Dominion.

Since the start of the season the Bearkats have been a dangerous squad offensively and come into this tournament averaging 79.9 ppg. Sam Houston State is shooting a respectable 46.8 percent from the floor on the season, and from behind the arc the team has been just as solid, connecting on 37.8 percent of its attempts from long range. Gilberto Clavell provides balance in the frontcourt, as the big man is netting 16.9 ppg, to go along with a team- high 6.3 rpg. Corey Allmond is contributing 15.9 ppg and is the team's top threat from behind the arc, connecting on 94-of-250 attempts from long range (37.6 percent). Running the show on the floor has been Ashton Mitchell, who has distributed 162 assists, to go along with 12.7 ppg. Mitchell however, is more than just a passer, as the guard comes into this tournament posting an impressive 47.0 percent shooting effort from the floor.

With the likes of Kansas and Kansas State in their conference, the Bears often went overlooked this season, but they remain a very dangerous team. Baylor is known for its play offensively, but the team has been tenacious at the defensive end of the court as well, and heads into this game limiting opponents to just 65.9 ppg on a 38.4 percent shooting effort. The Bears have also done a terrific on the glass, outrebounding opponents by an average of 6.7 rpg. While the defensive effort is important, the true success of this team does lie at the offensive end of the court, as the team is producing 77.6 ppg. LaceDarius Dunn is currently pacing the team with 19.4 ppg, and is a terrifying threat from behind the arc, where he is connecting on 42.5 percent (105-of-247) of his three-point attempts. Tweety Carter has run the show on the floor, netting 15.7 ppg, to go along with a team-high 171 assists, while Ekpe Udoh has dominated the paint, averaging 13.9 ppg and 9.8 rpg.

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Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

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