LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Sam Houston missed some opportunities down the stretch to open Conference USA action with a 75-71 loss to New Mexico State on Thursday night at the Pan American Center.
The Bearkats (7-7, 0-1) were in it until the very end, but an improbable basket at the end of the shot clock that put the Aggies up four with less than 15 seconds to go pretty much sealed it.
Kalifa Sakho led Sam Houston with 16 points and 13 rebounds, and
Cameron Huefner added 15.
Sakho and
Lamar Wilkerson, who chipped in 14 points, came out firing to help the Bearkats erase a double-digit disadvantage to begin the second half. Sakho extended a 4-0 run that close dthe first with a dunk right out of the gate, then Wilkerson buried a 3 to make it 38-35.
The Aggies did get it back to an eight-point lead, but it was a dogfight from there.
Wilkerson hit another long-range jumper to make it 49-46, then Huefner cut it to one with a pair of free throws. NM State got bucket, but
Marcus Boykin scored four straight points to give Sam Houston its first lead since the opening period at 54-53 with under 10 minutes left.
The Aggies were able to tie it at 59 only to see Huefner hit a pair of free throws to put the Kats back on top. NM State took the lead with a 3, but Boykin, who also scored 14 points, found the bottom of the net on the other end to knot the contest at 64.
Sam Houston found itself down four again with 1:11 on the clock, and this time that was enough for the Aggies to hold on for the victory.
The Kats hit a scoring drought midway through the half which allowed NM State to rally to take the lead for the first time. After Sakho threw down an alley-oop off a pass from
Marcus Boykin that gave Sam Houston 20-15, the Aggies went on a 10-run.
Huefner finally stopped the skid with a layup to cut the lead to 25-22 with just under six minutes to go in the period. NM State answered once again with an 11-4 run to go up double figures.
The Bearkats did get a bit of a boost right before halftime. Wilkerson knocked down a floater, and
Brennen Burns drove to the basket for a layup to trim the lead to 38-30.
Sam Houston makes the short trip to El Paso to face UTEP on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CST
