CONWAY, AR ? Bearkat guards Ashton Mitchell and Corey Allmond each scored 18 points to lead Sam Houston State to a 75-52 Southland Conference men's basketball victory Saturday afternoon.

Sam Houston State (13-8, SLC 7-1) never trailed in the contest, building a 36-21 halftime margin and leading by 25 points with three minutes to play.

The victory extends SHSU's Southland winning streak to seven games.

Allmond hit five three point shots. Mitchell was credited with six assists. Barkley Falkner scored 10 points and had nine rebounds. Preston Brown scored nine points and had 10 rebounds.

The Bearkats hit 24-of-60 from the field to shoot 40 percent. The SHSU defense held UCA to 32.7 percent shooting (16 of 49). Brooks Taylor led Central Arkansas with 13 points.

"We got off to a good start and our defense played well the entire game," SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said. "We hit a couple of threes early. Corey hit one, then Preston, then Ashton and it was 9-2. Corey hit another, Ashton another and Lance Pevehouse hit one and it was 21-6. We got ahead and continued to play well."

Mitchell played a solid game defensively, holding UCA's leading scorer Marcus Pillow to four points.

"Ashton had a tremendous game," Marlin said. "He scored 18, had six assists, three steals and only two turnovers. His defense on Marcus Pillow was exceptional. We took care of the ball and had only nine turnovers. We held them to only eight field goals in the first half and eight in the second. That's impressive."

After playing on the road in three of their last four games, the Bearkats return home to Johnson Coliseum Wednesday to take on Southland Conference East Division leaders Nicholls State in a 7 p.m. game.