Senior Demarcus Gatlin made a game-tying three-pointer in the first overtime period and iced the game with five points in the third overtime to lead Sam Houston State to a 93-85 win over South Dakota in three overtimes.

Gatlin, who missed the end of the 2012-13 season and all of 2013-14, finished with 18 points, his highest point total since the 2011-12 season.

The Bearkats started slowly and trailed 17-9 before going on an 11-2 run to take a 20-19 lead. South Dakota immediately retook the lead and held onto it for the remainder of the first half.

Sam Houston started the second half strong and tied the game 36-36. The Bearkats never led through the first 10 minutes of the second half and trailed by as many as five points

Freshman guard Jamal Williams came off the bench with nine minutes left to play and Sam Houston trailing 47-44. He made a major impact in his first extended playing time for the Kats, scoring nine of his 13 points over a five-minute stretch in the second half.

Williams helped the Bearkats get out to a 64-59 lead with 2:12 to play but the lead didn't last.

South Dakota converted a pair of three-point plays to tie the game up with just nine seconds left. Kaheem Ransom had an opportunity to win the game for the Kats in regulation but missed a layup as time expired to force overtime tied 65-65.

Gatlin made a game-tying three-pointer with one second left in the first overtime to send the game to a second overtime period deadlocked at 74. The senior scored five of the Kats seven points in the first OT.

Ransom had another chance to win the game in the second overtime but was called for a travel with two seconds left, forcing a third extra period.

Gatlin again came up huge, scoring five more points in the third overtime to lead the Bearkats to victory.

Sam Houston will play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament against the hosts Fairfield Saturday at 6:00 p.m. The Bearkats will close out the tournament playing Wofford Sunday at 11:00 a.m.