23-6,13-4WAC
Stephen F. Austin
19-11,11-6WAC
Kats axe the Jacks on the road in OT
3/1/2023 11:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NACOGDOCHES — The Bearkats got the signature win in Nacogdoches that eluded them the last three seasons.
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Despite having two starters foul out and being without its fourth leading scorer Lamar Wilkerson due to injury, Sam Houston outlasted rival Stephen F. Austin 64-59 in overtime at William R. Johnson Coliseum on Wednesday.
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The Bearkats completed the regular season sweep to improve to 23-6 overall and 13-4 in Western Athletic Conference play to remain in the race for the No. 1 seed in the league's postseason tournament next week at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
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Sam Houston was leading 52-49 with 52 seconds left in regulation when leading scorer and point guard Qua Grant, who scored nine points, picked up his fifth foul. Donte Powers was able to knock down a pair of free throws to push the advantage to five.
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The Lumberjacks answered with a 3-pointer and tied the game at 54 with 23 seconds on the clock. Cameron Huefner, who hit the game winning shot in a win at UTRGV, just missed a chance to put this one away with a jumper as time expired.
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Ron Mitchell Jr. hit a clutch 3 to begin overtime, and Huefner came up with a steal that would lead to a pair of free throws by Donte Powers to push the lead to 59-54 with 3:47 left in overtime. After Hufner fouled out with two minutes to go, SFA went on a 4-2 run to get within two.
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Powers knocked down two more free throws and Damon Nicholas Jr., who had a monster game off the bench with a career-high 15 points and eight rebounds, sealed it with a free throw in the final seconds.
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Kaosi Ezeagu scored a season-high 12 points, and Powers finished with 14.
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Sam Houston closes out the regular season against Abilene Christian at Johnson Coliseum on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
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