OXFORD, Miss. — Sam Houston had a chance to tie it but just missed a 3-point attempt in the final seconds of a 70-67 loss to Ole Miss at Tad Smith Coliseum on Friday.
After the Rebels took the lead at 70-67 with only their third made 3-point basket of the night with a minute on the clock and a free throw with nine seconds left in the game, the Bearkats (1-3) had a chance to tie things up coming out of a timeout.
Lamar Wilkerson had a look at a triple, but the shot fell short, and Sam Houston was unable to get off another attempt as time expired to allow Ole Miss to escape with the victory.
The game was give and take for both teams from the opening tip as the lead changed hands eight times. The Bearkats went on a run to take a 33-31 lead at the half and the contest was back and forth in the final 20 minutes.
The Rebels were able to build a five-point lead at 49-44 midway through the second half when Sam Houston once again answered.
Davon Barnes, who led the Kats with 22 points, hit one of his four shots from long range to cut the lead to two, and back-to-back layups by
Damon Nicholas Jr. and
Kian Scroggins put Sam Houston up 51-49.
The Kats held the lead for the next four minutes before Ole Miss came back to tie it and eventually pull out the victory.
Jaden Ray added 12 points for Sam Houston, and Wilkerson finished with 11. Nicholas added nine points as the Bearkats shot 41 percent from the field.
