HUNTSVILLE – Junior guard Paul Baxter scored 17 points including a field goal and two free throws in the final 1:34 of a one-point ball game to lead Sam Houston State to an 84-78 victory over University of the Incarnate Word in the Southland Conference men's basketball opener for both teams.
Baxter was one of nine players (five for the Bearkats and four for UIW) who scored in double figures Saturday. DeMarcus Gatlin added 16 points including a lay-up with 50 seconds left that put Sam Houston up 81-78.
Denzel Livingston, the second-leading scorer in the Southland with a 23.1 average coming into the contest, led Incarnate Word with 21 points. Livingston's lay-up with 1:21 to play cut an SHSU margin that had been 18 points to one, 79-78. The Kats held UIW scoreless the rest of the way, hitting 3 of 5 free throws in the final 27 seconds.
Sam Houston remains undefeated (7-0) at home in Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum, is 9-4 for the year and extends its current winning streak to four victories. Incarnate Word dropped to 8-3.
“I'm glad it's over,” SHSU head coach Jason Hooten said following the contest. “The first game is always the hardest one just because of anticipation. You have to defend your home floor if you are going to fight for a title.”
Other players in double figures for Sam Houston were Jabari Peters (13), Michael Holyfield (12) and Kaheem Ransom (11). Mitchell Badillo (15), Kyle Hittle (13) and Shawn Johnson rounded out UIW's top scorers.
“There was probably a bit of pressure put on ourselves,” Hooten said. “We have a resilient team that has worked hard and prepared themselves for this moment all year. I knew this would be a grind even we were up 18. When you have a really good player like they do you just know it's not over until it's over.”
After two early ties at 2-2 and 4-4, the Bearkats surged into the lead and never trailed again. Sam Houston led by as many as 14 points in the first 20 minutes on a three-point basket by Jabari Peters to make the score 46-32 1:39 before intermission. UIW finished the period on a 6-3 run to cut the margin to nine at half, 47-38.
Field goal accuracy was the difference for the SHSU men in the first half as the Kats hit 52.9 percent (18-of-34) from the field including six three-pointers. The Bearkat defense limited the Cardinals to 38.5 percent shooting (10-of-26) in the first 20 minutes.
A three-pointer by Hittle cut the SHSU margin to 57-55 with 13:59 left in the second half. Sam Houston bounced back to go up 18, 75-57 with 7:52 to play on a three-pointer by Ransom. But UIW roared back with a 19-2 run to cut the margin to 77-76 with 1:56 to go.
Sam Houston's led the Cardinals in rebounding 44-36 as Holyfield grabbed 11 boards and Gatlin 10.
The Bearkats play host to Northwestern State Monday night at 8 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum.
