Dorothy said, “There's no place like home” and the Sam Houston men's basketball team agrees after an 80-68 victory Saturday afternoon over Houston Baptist.
Playing five of their last seven games on the road including a 70-69 loss at HBU's Sharp Gymnasium on January 30, the Bearkats were playing in their first home game at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in 17 days.
Aurimas Majauskas scored 20 points and Dakarai Henderson added 17 more as Sam Houston upped its record to 13-12 for the year and 8-4 in Southland Conference. Anthony Odunsi led HBU with 16 points as the Huskies dropped to 14-11 this season and 8-4, tied with the Bearkats.
Outside shooting was a big factor in the win as the Kats went 9-of-21 from three point range (42.9 percent). Henderson was 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and Majuaskas, a 6-8 post player, hit a pair of threes. Albert Almanza scored 11 points with two coming on treys.
“It certainly is good to be home again, “Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten said. “We talked in the locker room before the game about how it's tough on the road but we've hung in there and the goals we've set are still achievement as we enter the stretch run.”
The lead changed hands four times in the first half with the visitor's last learn coming with 2:07 left in the first half, 33-32, on a free throw by Cody Stetler. Sam Houston closed out the half with a Henderson three-pointer and a layup by Majauskas as the Kats went in at intermission with a 37-33 lead.
Sam Houston roared out of the dressing room to take an 11-point 50-39 lead on a fast break dunk by Henderson five minutes into the second half. The biggest margin was 17 points with 10:53 to play in the game.
Majauskas posted his fifth game of the year over 20 points and his 17th double figure performance. Henderson scored in double digits for the 18th time this year.
Sam Houston plays one of its two remaining road games Monday night in Abilene against the ACU Wildcats.
