HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston gave California Baptist hope for most of the first half then turned on the jets to soar to a 56-45 victory at Johnson Coliseum on Thursday.
The Bearkats picked up a key win in the race for the top seed in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament as Utah Valley, which currently leads the resume seeding standings, suffered an upset at Tarleton on Thursday in Stephenville.
Qua Grant led Sam Houston (21-6, 11-4) with 16 points and six rebounds.
Cameron Huefner added 13 points,
Kaosi Ezeagu finished with nine and
Anthony Wrzeszcz provided a boost off the bench with seven.
The first half was far from an offensive contest early. Both teams struggled to make shots as the Lancers led just 12-4 nine minutes into the game.
The Bearkats finally got rolling with seven minutes remaining in the period when Huefner knocked in a couple of free throws to make it 17-12. Ezeagu scored on a putback, and Wrzeszcz followed with a 3 to pull the Kats within 19-16.
Wrzeszcz then hit a jumper and Huefner laid one off the glass to give Sam Houston its first lead at 20-19 at the 3:33 mark. The Lancers were able get a shot to fall, but the Bearkats closed the half on a 9-0 run.
Huefner made another 3 to regain the lead, and Ezeagu made a free throw before Powers drained three more when he was fouled on a 3-point attempt. Sam Houston had the last possession of the half and Grant capped the run when he scored on a layup as time expired to send the Kats into the break on top 29-22.
Sam Houston scored two quick baskets on a pair of layups by Huefner and Grant to start the second half to push the lead to double figures. The Bearkats' largest lead was 56-35 with under six minutes to go when Huefner hit a jumper and two free throws and
Lamar Wilkerson drained a 3.
The Lancers closed the game on a 10-0 run, but Sam Houston had turned to the bench to close out the game to rest some players with a showdown against Southern Utah looming on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Kats and Thunderbirds are both 11-4 in the WAC and SUU handed Sam Houston an 86-74 loss in Cedar City, Utah on Jan. 12.
