Box Score
HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State needed everything it could muster late in the first half to take a one-point lead into the intermission against Lamar. During the second half, the tide turned.
The Bearkats scored the first 13 points of the second half and outscored the Cardinals by 21 in the final 20 minutes in route to an 87-65 victory. The win was the fifth straight in league play for Sam Houston (14-6 overall, 5-2 Southland) and 12th in last 13 matchups against Lamar (11-8, 3-3 SLC).
Sam Houston registered its most second-half points in Southland play with 46, reversing its fortunes from behind the arc. Playing in front of 1,071 fans, the Bearkats went 7-of-10 from downtown in the second half, highlighted by three from John Dewey III, after shooting just 1-of-10 in the first half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Christopher Galbreath Jr. scored 20 first-half points including the final eight points of the frame for Sam Houston. The junior helped bring Sam Houston back from an eight-point deficit, tying the game at 24-all.
If that was not enough, the Chicago native provided a pair of head-turning blocks in the span of 20 seconds and made the final four field goals of the first half for Sam Houston.
The Bearkats began the second half on a 13-0 run, racing out to a 14-point lead following the break. Sam Houston held Lamar without a field goal over the first five-plus minutes of the second half and received steady play from Dewey III, who posted his most points in 15 games.
The sophomore transfer finished with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting including four 3-pointers. Galbreath tallied 20 points, all coming in the first half, on 10-of-14 while adding a team-leading eight rebounds.
Aurimas Majauskas finished in double-figures for a fourth straight game and 11th time this season. Majauskas and Dakarai Henderson each totaled 11 points in the second half and 13 total to led Sam Houston to 70 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Christopher Galbreath Jr. energized the Bearkats – and their faithful – midway through the second half, account for 20 of Sam Houston's 41 first-half points. The forward posted 20-plus points for the second time in three games and third time this year.
John Dewey III finished with nine second-half points and 14 total. The Bronx, N.Y., native dished out a game-high eight assists in 29 minutes and posted a season-high four 3-pointers.
QUOTABLES:
Head coach Jason Hooten on the performance of Galbreath…
“He's a guy who has starters' minutes and starters' stats but he is really comfortable coming off the bench and that is a really good fit for us. We talked about attacking the basket tonight and that's what Chris came in and did. I really think that gave us a boost.”
Head coach Jason Hooten on the performance of second-half outburst…
“We came out and scored the first 13 points and I thought Dewey was a big part of that. Even though he hasn't shot well this season, he is a shooter … we see that in practice.”
