HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS ? Ryan Bright scored 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in 17 minutes of playing time as Sam Houston State manhandled Hardin-Simmons 79-41 Thursday night at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats led from wire to wire, shooting 51.9 per cent from the floor (27 of 52) and out-rebounding the Cowboys 53-22 to remain unbeaten for the season, 6-0. Hardin-Simmons dropped to 1-2.

The 6-0 start is the best for Sam Houston State in its 21 seasons as an NCAA Division I program in the Southland Conference. The last time the Bearkats started a year 6-0 was as an NAIA team in the Lone Star Conference in 1980.

The victory also extended Sam Houston State's non-conference home winning streak at Johnson Coliseum to 41 games, the third longest in NCAA Division I men's basketball behind Duke and Utah State.

John Gardiner was the only other Bearkat in double figures with 10 points as Sam Houston State's bench saw most of the action in the game. NCAA Division III All-American center Mardochea Jean led Hardin-Simmons with 10 points and eight rebounds.

For Sam Houston, DeLuis Ramirez added nine points and Jeremy Thomas and Shamir McDaniel each had eight. Each of the Bearkats scored at least a basket.

"It was one of those games where we wanted to come out and improve," Bright said."We were concerned with getting better as a team. I think we did that tonight. A lot of people stepped up who haven't been playig much and got some playing time. That will help us in the long run."

After Sam Houston took an early lead, the closest Hardin-Simmons came was three points, 11-8, when Charlie Pannell hit a three-point basket five minutes into the contest. Sparked by McDaniel's three point basket that answered Pannell, the Bearkats went on a 12-0 run and never looked back. Sam Houston led 41-17 at half and led by more than 30 points for most of the second half.

Sam Houston State will face Texas Lutheran next at Johnson Coliseum on Tuesday night.