Sam Houston State begins play in the 2009 Cancun Classic when they travel to historic Rupp Arena to meet the No. 4 ranked Kentucky Wildcats Thursday.

The Cancun Classic features eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams and will be played November 18-25. There will be eight games played in the U.S. and eight games played at the Moon Palace Resort, a 5-star all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico.

Cleveland State, Kentucky, Stanford, Virginia, Florida A&M, Oral Roberts, and Rider join the Bearkats in the event. Saturday, Sam Houston will travel to Cleveland State for the Kats' second Classic contest. The following week the Bearkats will head down to Mexico and open up with Oral Roberts on Nov. 24. The Kats will then take on either Florida A&M or Rider.

Thursday's game marks the 13th time Sam Houston has faced an NCAA Division I top 25 ranked foe. Past results for the Bearkats in games vs. AP Top-25 opponents are:

The Bearkats have tipped off the 2009-10 season with a pair of home victories over NCAA Division III opponents. Sam Houston defeated LeTourneau 73-42 and Texas College 91-54.

A key concern coming into the young season was defense and Sam Houston has looked strong in that area. The Kats have held their two opponents to a .272 shooting mean, are out-scoring their foes 82.0 to 48.0 points per game and have dominated on the boards 90 rebounds to 65.

Junior transfer center Gilberto Clavell leads the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game. Also scoring in double figures are guards Corey Allmond (14.0) and Ashton Mitchell (10.0).

Offensively, Sam Houston is hitting .515 from the floor (67 of 130).

The Bearkats are 0-11 against the Southeastern Conference. This is their first meeting with Kentucky.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for our program to play the winningest college basketball program of all time ," SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said. "I was telling Ashton Mitchell earlier that he got to play in Pauley Pavillion against the number one team in the country, a program that has won more national championships than any other team. He got to play against the winningest college basketball coach of all time in Bobby Knight and now he gets to play at the winningest program for all time.

"It's the trifecta for Ashton, but it is certainly a great opportunity for our team."

The Wildcats present an awesome challenge. Kentucky is 2-0 under new head coach John Calipari. The team features All-American Patrick Patterson and super freshman John Wall.

The Bearkats came into the season looking for an inside game and seem to have done just that. Clavell leads the squad in scoring and forwards Arthur Zulu and Antuan Bootle both are averaging 6.5 points per game. Preston Brown, a starter last year, is sidelined for the Kentucky game.

"Our guys have played well and they are stepping up," Marlin said. "They hvae battled and I'm pleased with how they are playing."

Sam Houston is out-rebounding opponents 90-65 and has 13 blocks. But Kentucky's frontcourt is nothing like what the Bearkats have seen so far. Patterson is the preseason Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. The 6-9 junior is averaging 18.5 points and 11 rebounds a game.

Kentucky also has a pair of talented freshman posts in 6-11 DeMarcus Cousins and 6-10 Daniel Orton.

"We had the size advantage in our first two games, but that role is reserved," Marlin said. "Kentucky has a lot of height and talent upfront. This will be a different challenge for us."

Since Bob Marlin became Sam Houston head coach in 1998-99, the Bearkats have produced a 70-47 record against non-Southland Conference competition - the best non-conference mark in the league in those 12 seasons.

Sam Houston has played -- and defeated -- such top teams as Missouri, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Baylor, Houston, New Mexico State, Fresno State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Central Florida, Saint Louis and Loyola-Marymount.

"Our goal in our non-league portion of the schedule is to put our players in situations that will help them improve to be ready for the Southland, Conference" Marlin said. "Top to bottom, the Southland is an extremely competitive league with good players and coaches throughout the conference. We're expecting another extremely competitive race this year."

The next home game for Sam Houston will be a duel with Mid-America Christian Monday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 pm. Attending the contest can help Sam Houston students earn a free T-Shirt.

The first 500 SHSU students to attend any combination of three home men's or women's basketball games will win a Bearkat basketball t-shirt courtesy of Student Activities and Bearkat Athletics.

Attendees will be tracked via the BearkatOneCard. For the purposes of the promotion, the men's and women's basketball doubleheader on Monday, November 30, will count as one event only. Sam Students receive free admission to BEarkat home games on presentation of their BearkatOneCard.

Fans can order men's basketball tickets now on-line at www.gobearkats.com or by contacting the Sam Houston State athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 am. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.