Five Bearkats scored in double figures and six hit at least one three-point shot as Sam Houston defeated Abilene Christian 80-63 in a Southland Conference men's basketball game at Moody Coliseum Monday night.

The victory put the SHSU men back on the winning track after a loss to Stephen F. Austin ended the Kats' nine-game winning streak Saturday.

The Kats upped their season record to 15-5 and stand one-half game back of the league-leading Lumberjacks in conference play with a 7-1 league mark.

"We shot the ball well and shared it well," head coach Jason Hooten said. "Any time you can get off to a good start, home or away, it's important."

Kaheem Ransom led Sam Houston with 13 points. DeMarcus Gatlin and Dakarai Henderson each totaled 12 points, Michael Holyfield added 11 and Jabari Peters totaled 10 points. Gatlin led the Kats under the boards with seven rebounds.

Twelve of Sam Houston's 26 field goals in the contest were three-point baskets. Ransom led the team with three treys. The Bearkats shot 50 percent from the field (26-of-52).

"I thought we executed well enough to get some good looks," Hooten said. "I think it's time for us to make some shots. We haven't shot really well this year, and you just hope you will start to bust out. I think we did that here tonight."

Austin Cooke led Abilene Christian with 15 points. The Wildcats dropped to 9-11 for the year and 3-5 in Southland action.

The Bearkats never trailed and the contest was tied only once (at 3-3 in the second minute) as Sam Houston jumped out to a 24-5 lead in the first seven minutes.

Peters opened scoring for the SHSU men with a pair of three pointers and the Kats went on to total eight treys in the first half alone.

Abilene Christian made a brief rally, cutting the margin to 14, 27-13, with nine minutes remaining in the opening 20 minutes. Sam Houston closed the half with an 18-12 run to take a 45-25 lead at intermission.

The 20-point margin marked Sam Houston's seventh double-digit halftime lead of the season.

The Wildcats cut the margin to 14 points twice in the second half. But both times Henderson immediately answered with a trey put the Bearkats back in control.

Sam Houston returns home to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum to play host to Houston Baptist Saturday at 4:30 p.m.