Auburn
Bearkats blast Auburn 107-89 Sunday
12/20/2009 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
AUBURN, AL - Junior center Gilberto Clavell scored a season high 34 points and senior guard Corey Allmond added 25 points as Sam Houston State picked up its first victory ever over a Southeastern Conference opponent with a 107-89 victory over Auburn Sunday afternoon.
Clavell's performance marked the junior transfer's third consecutive 20-plus scoring performance. The transfer from Collin County posted 26 and 21 points in the Kats' previous two contests. His 34 points tie as the fifth highest scoring performance by a Bearkat against an NCAA Division I foe.
"We were able to get the ball close to the basket - he's quick. He's obviously a little shorter than (Johnny) Lett and (Greg) Knox but was really able to finish ," SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said. "His ability to score after getting knocked inside is huge for us. These officials let us play a little at times so we needed his production."
Allmond hit 6 of 13 from three point range as Sam Houston (7-3) had its second best shooting performance of the season, going 38-of-66 for 57.6 percent from the field.
Three other Bearkats scored in double figures as Josten Crow totaled 15 points, Preston Brown 13 and Ashton Mitchell 10. Mitchell scored all his points in the first 10 minutes of the game.
The first team preseason All-Southland Conference point guard twisted his ankle on a three-point basket with 9:14 remaining in the first half that put the Kats up 28-25. Drae Murray and Crow shared point guard duties the rest of the contest. Murray finished the contest with a career high 10 assists.
"That was a bit of a concern for us," Marlin said. "Drae Murray our backup is sick like me. He ran out of gas but we were able to continue to play and score points. We knew that Auburn was going to make a strong run after the half. They played a strong second half at Florida State. Fortunately, we were able to hold off. Our goal at the half was to win the second half."
Auburn (5-7) was led by DeWayne Reed with 19 points.
The 107 points mark the second highest single game point total for the Bearkats against an NCAA Division I non-conference opponent. Sam Houston scored 112 points in a victory over U.S. International in 1989. The total marked the Bearkats' first 100-plus point performance since scoring 112 points in an overtime victory at Lamar last year.
After nine early lead changes, Sam Houston took control 10 minutes into the first half as Clavell scored on a lay-up and followed up with a free throw to put the Bearkats up 26-24.
The three-point play started a 24-8 run for the Bearkats during the next six minutes as Sam Houston extended its lead to 47-32 on a trey by Almond.
Sam Houston built a 58-42 lead at intermission with the team's best half shooting this season as the Bearkats went 65.6 percent from the field (21-of-32). Nine of those baskets were threes.
Josten Crow kept the heat turned on hitting a three on the Kats' first possession of the second half as Sam Houston built a 25-point 81-56 lead on another three-pointer by Allmond with 11:40 to play.
Midway through the second half, Auburn went on a 14-3 run to cut the Bearkat margin to 14 points, but could come no closer.
Sam Houston State returns home Tuesday night to play host to Florida International and the Golden Panthers' first-year head coach former NBA All-Star Isiah Thomas. The contest is the final home game for the Bearkats this month and tips at 7 p.m.
Purchase tickets to see FIU and their head coach Isiah Thomas now on www.gobearkats.com or contact the Sam Houston State athletic ticket office. The ticket office is located in the Ron Mafrige Field Events Center at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
For more information about home sports events at Sam Houston State, go on-line to www.gobearkats.com.
