The Bearkat men's basketball team defeated Samford 73-57 in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, giving Sam Houston its second consecutive victory.

Senior point guard Darius Gatson led SHSU with 15 points including a 9-for-10 performance from the free throw line.

The Kats jumped out on Samford early, leading by as many as 13 points in the first half. Sam Houston led 38-30 at intermission.

Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten said the Bearkats played a solid game.

"This was a game that a couple of weeks ago we probably would have won by five or six points," Hooten said. "We put the pedal to the metal at the end and really finished strong."

Samford cut the Kats' lead to four points early in the second period, but Sam Houston never let it get closer. Will Bond scored 13 points off the bench. Terrance Motley added 10.

The Bearkats return to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Wednesday for a 7 p.m. non-conference game with Hutson-Tillotson.