Sam Houston State's men's basketball team returns home to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum seeking to end a three-game losing streak Wednesday when they play host to the McNeese State Cowboys at 7 p.m.

The Bearkats have dropped close decisions to A&M-Corpus Christi (50-49) and Stephen F. Austin (67-66 in overtime) and fell 78-66 at UTSA last Saturday. Sam Houston stands 8-13 for the year and ranks fifth in the Southland West Division with a 2-5.

The Cowboys come to Huntsville tied for first place in the Southland West with their 5-2 league mark. McNeese State stands 9-10 for the season.

McNeese State leads the all-time men's basketball series with Sam Houston State 35 victories to 26. The Cowboys defeated the Bearkats 73-63 last year in Lake Charles as McNeese ended a four-game winning streak by the Kats against the Cowboys.

Patrick Richard, a 6-4 senior forward who leads the Southland Conference in scoring this season with 17.4 points per game, leads the Cowboy attack. Jeremie Mitchell, a 6-3 senior guard, also is scoring in double figures with 11.5 per contest.

Konner Tucker, 6-4 junior guard, leads Sam Houston with 11.8 points per game. Tucker scored 20 points in last week's overtime loss to SFA in Nacogdoches.

Steven Werner and Demarcus Gatlin also are averaging in double figures for the Bearkats. Werner, a 6-7 junior transfer, scored 27 points at UTSA last Saturday to up his season average to 10.9 points per game. Gatlin, a 6-4 sophomore guard, is producing 10.5 points per game.

Marcus James, 6-7 senior forward, is averaging 9.5 points for the year but is in double figures in Southland Conference action with a 10.0 average. James leds the Bearkats under the boards with 6.9 rebounds per contest.

KSAM 101.7 FM will broadcast the game and the contest will be streamed live on www.gobearkats.com .