Huntsville -- Free throws by Jovante Spivey, Dakarai Henderson and Jamal Williams in the final minute and six seconds provided the margin of victory as Sam Houston defeated New Orleans 73-70 in a Southland Conference men's basketball game Saturday afternoon.
Henderson led the Bearkats with 18 points and Albert Almanza added 11 as Sam Houston evened its season record at 8-8 and remains undefeated after three Southland Conference games. Nate Frye led the Privateers with 14. UNO now stands 5-8 for the year and 1-1 in the league.
The contest was tied 16 times with 19 lead changes. New Orleans's last lead came with 2:19 remaining on a pair of charity shots by Nate Frye for a 68-66 margin.
“I'm not sure either team deserved to lose,” Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten said. “I was worried coming into today because they have a lot of experience and they are only giving up 41 or 42 percent from the field.”
The Privateers limited the Bearkats to 38 percent shooting (19-of-50). Sam Houston out-boarded UNO 39-37, collecting 15 point on second chance baskets. Williams led the Kats with 10 rebounds.
“Our bench was huge. Dakarai (Henderson) got off to a great start, making his first two or three shots then picks up two quick fouls and we have to take him out,” Hooten said. “We have a whole team full of guys who are getting better and better. The reason we won the game today was because our bench.
Spivey tied the contest 68-68 on two free throws and Henderson put the Kats up by two 70-68 with a jumper with 1:30 left. Tevin Broyles accounted for the Privateers' final two points with two free throws at the 1:06 mark. New Orleans missed three field goal attempts in the final 45 seconds.
Sam Houston totaled 26 bench points with freshman Marc Fortin scoring nine points in 10 minutes of play after both post players Aurimas Majauskas and Torry Butler fouled out.
“This was a big win for this young team,” Hooten said. “When you look at New Orleans, they've got basically the whole team back and we don't. I think you see a lot of confidence growing in our guys and a win like that can only help because it was such a hard fought game and because we were behind late and found a way to close it out.”
Sam Houston plays host to Southeastern Louisiana Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in the Bearkats' next game.
