The contest was tied six times with six lead changes but Sam Houston pulled ahead to take a 29-25 lead at intermission. The Bearkats posted a season best 78 percent performance at the free throw line, hitting 20-of-28.

Demarcus Gatlin also scored in double figures for the Kats, totaling 17 points. Both Mason and Gatlin went 5-of-9 from the field. Mason hit three treys while Gatlin sank one three-pointer.

Art Bernardi led Houston Baptist with 17 points.

Marquel McKinney and Michael Holyfield each added seven points for the Bearkats. Holyfield led SHSU with nine rebounds.

Head coach Jason Hooten was pleased with the Bearkats' aggressive play in the victory.

"We got off to a good start tonight, which is something we haven't done a lot," Hooten said. "We wanted to concentrate on being aggressive and taking the ball to the basket. For some reason, we didn't get the breaks in the first half, but I told the team at halftime not to be discouraged about that. We continued to attack the basket and in the second half we were 19 of 26 from the free throw line."

The Bearkats now take a break for final exams. The Sam Houston men return to action Saturday, Dec. 15 when they travel to Birmingham, Ala., to face Samford.

Sam Houston returns to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum for the next men's home game Wednesday, Dec. 19, against Huston-Tillotson.