HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston went on a furious rally to force overtime, but it wasn't enough in a 79-72 loss to Utah Valley at Johnson Coliseum on Thursday night.
The Bearkats (1-1) were down 10 with just under a minute and a half left in regulation when
Lamar Wilkerson sparked a run with a 3-pointer. Following a turnover, Wilkerson made it a two-possession game with a pair of free throws.
A travel by the Wolverines put the ball back in Sam Houston's possession, and
Kian Scroggins scored on a layup to cut the lead to 64-61 with 46 seconds to go. Utah Valley turned the ball over again on an offensive foul, and Wilkerson once again came up clutch with a 3 from the right side to tie it and eventually send the game into overtime.
The Wolverines grabbed the lead to start the extra period and never relinquished it to pick up the victory and improve to 5-0 all-time against the Bearkats.
Wilkerson led Sam Houston with 20 points, and
Davon Barnes, who got rolling in the second half, added 12 points.
Marcus Boykin and
Anthony Wrzeszcz both finished with seven points.
The Kats will hit the road to face Oklahoma State on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.
