NEW ORLEANS, La. -- DeMarcus Gatlin scored 15 points, including five crucial free-throws late in the game, to lead Sam Houston State to a 68-62 win over New Orleans Saturday night. The Bearkats improve to 3-0 in Southland play and have won six straight games overall.

Sam Houston led the game wire-to-wire and had a double-digit lead for most of the game but had to sweat it out late as the Privateers made it a four-point game in the final minute.

“At times tonight I thought we played really well,” SHSU head coach Jason Hooten said. “But then we had a couple of mental breakdowns and got in foul trouble but that's just part of it. We are just trying to get better.”

Starting guards Paul Baxter and Kaheem Ransom got into foul trouble in the first half, forcing Gatlin to take over point guard duties for a large part of the first half. But the Bearkat offense barely missed a beat, shooting 42.9% from the field and holding a 13 point lead at half.

Gatlin was the only Sam Houston player to score in double figures but three players scored nine points.

Michael Holyfield scored nine points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. The 6'11 senior also blocked six shots. Jabari Peters scored nine points and had six rebounds while Paul Baxter finished with nine points and four rebounds.

Dakarai Henderson added eight points for the Kats, hitting a pair of three-pointers. The Bearkats had nine different players score a basket in the game.

New Orleans was led by Christavious Gill and Terrance Syon who each scored 14 points. Kevin Hill and Tevin Broyles each scored 11 points for the Privateers.

The Bearkat defense kept the Privateers off the board for the first four minutes of the game, forcing them to go 0-for-6 from the field over that stretch. Sam Houston led for the entire first half and had their largest lead at the break.

Sam Houston will finish the road swing Monday at 7:00 p.m. against Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond.