2-1
Louisiana Tech
2-0
Men's Basketball Drops Nail-Biter at Louisiana Tech
11/11/2018 8:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RUSTON, La. – The Sam Houston State men's basketball team (2-1) overcame an 18-point deficit to capture the lead, but the Bearkats couldn't hang on and dropped a 76-69 decision at Louisiana Tech, Saturday night.
Led by Cameron Delaney, who racked up 20 points, four Bearkats broke through to double-digit points. Josh Delaney and Chad Bowie both recorded 12 points on the day while freshman Zach Nutall tallied 10. As a unit, Sam Houston shot 38.2 percent from the field and was 18-for-24 at the free-throw line.
Louisiana Tech took an early six-point lead when Anthony Duruji and Amorie Archibald drilled back-to-back
Bowie, who scored eight of the Bearkats' first 13 points, drove to the lane and laid in a shot off the glass to give Sam Houston its first two points. Following a Bulldog turnover, Kai Mitchell took advantage of the mistake and brought the Bearkats within two thanks to a big bucket down low in the paint.
However, a 16-2 run by the Bulldogs put the Bearkats in a 22-6 deficit just seven minutes in.
The Bearkats and Bulldogs traded field goals for the next several minutes, but Sam Houston used multiple trips to the free-throw line to slowly chip away at Louisiana Tech's lead. After entering the bonus, Albert Almanza, Cameron Delaney
The SHSU defense stood their ground and held the hot Louisiana Tech offense to just six points in the first nine minutes of the second half. Meanwhile, Sam Houston's efforts beyond the three-point arc came alive as Nutall drilled back-to-back treys – including one four-point play – and Cameron Delaney nailed one as well.
Following the Bearkats' barrage of three-pointers, Delaney used a layup and a pair of free throws to give Sam Houston its first lead of the night at 52-51. After a pair of free throws swung the lead back into the Bulldogs' favor, Delaney and Bowie used consecutive layups to claim a three-point lead – it's largest of the night.
However, an 11-point Bulldog run – led by Jacolby Pemberton – switched the lead for the fourth time and put Louisiana Tech ahead 62-56. The Bearkats tried to respond, but Sam Houston was plagued by fouls as Mitchell, Almanza and RJ Smith each fouled out.
With time ticking down in the final minute, Sam Houston put up a quick seven points but it wasn't enough to catch the Bulldogs as the Bearkats fell 76-69.
Both teams finished the game with 21 field goals and the Bearkat defense brought in 29 rebounds.
Coming Up Next
The Bearkats continue their road swing with the start of the Cayman Island Classic at Clemson on Wednesday, Nov. 14. From there, Sam Houston will travel to Georgia (Nov. 16) before wrapping up the tournament in Johnson City, Tenn., on Nov. 19-20.
