The University of San Francisco men's basketball puts its 5-0 record to the line when the Dons host Sam Houston State on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Saturday's contest is the first ever matchup between the Dons and Bearkats, who enter the gamer with a 2-2 record.  Saturday's game will be streamed live via The WCC Network and will feature live stats.  Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will have the call courtside on the home of USF Dons Basketball, KNBR 1050-AM. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Nov. 23, 2019 – 5:00 p.m. PT
Opponent: Sam Houston State Bearkats (2-2, 0-0 Southland Conference)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center  
Stream:  The WCC Network
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Radio:  KNBR 1050-AM
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 
USF AT A GLANCE
 • USF is 5-0 after defeating CSU Bakersfield 100-70 on Tuesday night. The Dons set a USF single-game record with 19 made 3-point field goals. USF was on fire that evening, going 19-for-25 from long range.
 
• Century Mark Again: For the second time this season the Dons eclipsed the century mark on Tuesday - scoring their 100th point with 11 seconds left in regulation when Trevante Anderson knocked down the Dons' 19th 3-point field goal of the game. USF's other 100 point performance came in the season opener when the Dons rolled Sonoma State 101-50 on Nov. 5.  Tuesday's game was the 81st time in program history that the Dons have scored 100 - they are 75-6 in those contests.
 
• As a team, USF is averaging 88.6 points per game which ranks second in the WCC and 10th in the nation.  USF is shooting 47.5 percent from the field going 115-for-326.  Just under 50 percent of the Dons field goal attempts have been from 3-point range where they are shooting 38.6 percent (59-for-153). 
 
• Dons Set Single Game Record from 3-Point Range: In the 100-70 win over CSU Bakersfield the Dons were on fire from 3-point range. USF finished with a single-game record 19 3-point field goals going 19-for-25 (.760%). The previous record at USF was 18 made vs. Eastern Washington on Nov. 27, 2016 in a 96-90 loss. 
  » USF's 3-point spree was so effective, the Dons 3-point field goal percentage went up 7.3 percent in one contest. From 31.3 to 38.6.
 
• Historically Rare Company: The #GoldenEra is off to a fantastic start. First Year head coach Todd Golden's 5-0 start is second only to William Bussenius who won his first seven games in 1945-46 - in his only season as head coach - most of those wins came against local military opponents following World War II.
 
• Getting Second Chances:  On Tuesday, the Dons had a season-low 0 second chance points - likely due to fact that the Dons shot a season-high 57.4 from the field.  For the year, USF is averaging 14.2 second chance points a game - their opponents just 2.8.
 
• Deep Bench:  The Dons' bench has been instrumental in the Dons 88.6 points per game.  The USF reserves are averaging 33.2 points per contest.  In the win over CSU Bakersfield the Dons reserves scored 46 points led by Remu Raitanen's career-high 19 points.
 
• Up Tempo Ball:  Through five games this season the Dons love to push the tempo.  As a team, USF is averaging 15.6 fast break points per contest. They finished with 14 in the win over CSU Bakersfield and scored a season-high 23 fast break points in the win over Yale.  The Dons' opponents this season are averaging just 2.8 fast break points per contest.
 
•  Through four games, USF has four players in double figures - leading the team is redshirt junior Charles Minlend who is averaging 15.0 ppg, behind him is Jamaree Bouyea (14.4), Khalil Shabazz (12.0), and Jordan Ratinho (11.2).
 
• On the Glass:  USF is averaging 42.4 rebounds per game which ranks 43rd in the nation - the Dons are +13.4 in rebound margin which ranks 9th best in the nation. On the offensive side of the ball, the Dons average 13.4 offensive rebounds per game which ranks 52nd in the nation. 
 
•From the Charity Stripe: Through four games, the Dons are 18th in the nation in free throw percentage, connecting on 79.6 percent of their attempts from 15 feet.   Historically, the free throw line has not been kind to the Dons who haven't shot better than .700 in the last decade.  The Dons have nine players shooting better than 70.0 percent from the free throw line this season.
 
 
THE SERIES
Saturday will be the first time that the Dons and Bearkats have faced each other in the combined 193 years of basketball.
 
ABOUT THE BEARKATS
Yes, Bearkats with a "K" members of the Southland Conference are fresh off the programs first ever NIT appearance last season after going 16-2 in the Southland last season.  Picked to finish second in the preseason poll this year, the Bearkats are 2-2 this season.  On Wednesday night they defeated Letourneau 88-58. As a team, they are averaging 79.5 points per game and shooting 45.3 percent from the field.  Two players are averaging double figures for Sam Houston State, they are led by Zach Nutall's 14.8 points per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT VERSUS SAM HOUSTON STATE
This is the first ever match up against Sam Houston State.  Since the 1945-46 season, the Dons are 16-3 against the current members of the Southland Conference.  This is the fourth consecutive year the Dons have played someone from the Southland Conference - they are 4-0 against the SLC during that stretch. Last year they defeated Stephen F. Austin in Belfast, in 2017-18 the Dons defeated Central Arkansas. In 2016-17 the Dons defeated Lamar and Abilene Christian.
 
UP NEXT
The Dons will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon hosting Hampton at Noon.  Tuesday's game will be streamed live on The WCC Network and will feature live stats and an audio broadcast on KNBR 1050-AM.