Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Aaron Wade scored a career-high 26 points as Sam Houston State defeated Texas State 97-83 Saturday in Strahan Coliseum.

The Bearkats won their eighth straight Southland Conference game in improving to 20-8 and remained atop the SLC standings at 12-2. Texas State dropped to 9-19 and 4-11. The Bobcats close out the year next Saturday at Texas-Arlington. Sam Houston plays at UTSA next Thursday before wrapping up the regular-season at home against league co-leader Texas A&M-Corpus Christi next Saturday.

Wade, who started at center for Sam Houston, stepped out on the perimeter and knocked down 5-of-9 three-pointers. The senior was 7-for-11 overall from the field and also knocked down 7-of-8 free throws. Bearkat forward C.J. Hadley finished with a double-double, scoring 18 points to go with 12 rebounds.

The game was the final home contest for fifth-year senior Antwoine Blanchard. The Little Rock, Ark., native scored 13 points and had three assists in the game.

Sam Houston State never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 12-2 lead. The Bearkats' opening run was capped by a four-point play by Hadley.

Sam Houston State would knock down 11-of-17 three-pointers in the first half and shoot 61 percent from the field in the opening half. The Kats would cool off in the second period but still would shoot 52 percent for the game.

Brandon Bush led the Bobcats in scoring with 14 points and also had seven rebounds.