HOUSTON – Second time around and the result was the same. The Sam Houston State men's basketball team took on Houston for the second time this month and fell to the Cougars 75-73.

It was a game the Bearkats led for a good majority of the contest, but in the end, Houston was the team able to knock down the big shot. Houston also defeated the Bearkats on Dec. 4, at Johnson Coliseum with a nearly identical 75-71 score in overtime. 

"They just made the plays they had to two games in a row," SHSU head coach Jason Hooten said. "Both games came down to the wire and we had our shots. We just didn't get it done."

After taking a 3-point lead into the half, the Kats held it until there were four minutes left to play in the game. Cougars guard Adam Brown hit a 3-pointer to give Houston a 69-67 lead. The Kats then turned the ball over on their next possession and Houston added ot its lead.

After falling behind by four, Sam Houston tied the game back up at 73 with just 41 seconds left when Clavell was fouled and a made basket and the free throw was good.

Houston answered right back with a jumper by Kendrick Washington with 11 seconds left to play. After a timeout, the Kats had one chance to tie, but Marcus Williams turned the ball over with less than a second left to play.

"We learned a lot from this game," Hooten said. "We hadn't been down by two with seven seconds to go all season. It didn't work out for us tonight, but now we know what it is like in that type of situation."

Clavell, who was playing sick, led the Kats with 25 points and Josten Crow finshed the night with 20. They each led the Kats with seven rebounds. Crow scored 17 of his points in the first half.