Box Score
HUNTSVILLE - The Bearkats buckled down in the second half and coasted to an 88-58 victory over LeTourneau Wednesday night at Johnson Coliseum.
After allowing 41-first half points on 7 of 14 from shooting from 3-point range, Sam Houston State (2-2) put the clamps down on the Yellowjackets (2-1) defensively, allowing just 17 points in the final 20 minutes on just 1 for 8 shooting from behind the arc.
The Bearkats also took better care of the ball after the break. SHSU had 14 turnovers in the first half which led to 14 points for LeTourneau. In the second half, the Kats had just five turnovers.
Sophomore Zach Nutall led Sam Houston State with 16 points and five rebounds, while junior guard Demarkus Lampley went 3 for 5 from 3 to chip in 14. Senior forward Kai Mitchell had 12 points and a team-high seven boards, and junior forward RJ Smith and sophomore forward Mark Tikhonenko just missed scoring in double figures with nine points apiece.
Sam Houston State hits the road for a trip to California. The Kats play at San Francisco Saturday at 7 p.m. CST and at Cal State Nov. 22 at 9 p.m. CST.
