HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston had the game-tying shot come up short at the end in a 77-75 loss to Middle Tennessee at Johnson Coliseum on Thursday evening.
The loss dropped the Bearkats to 8-12 overall and 1-6 in Conference USA action.
Marcus Boykin led Sam Houston with 22 points, and
Lamar Wilkerson finished with 20.
Cameron Huefner scored 14 points, and
Kalifa Sakho added 12 to go along with 11 rebounds.
The Blue Raiders used a 7-0 run in the second period to go up 50-45 and put the pressure on the Kats, who had the lead at the half. A 3 by Huefner and a three-point play by Boykin allowed Sam Houston to go back up 53-52 following a pair of free throws by Sakho.
The pattern of the game played out once more as MTSU scrambled back to extend it to a 65-58 game in favor of the Blue Raiders.
Sam Houston continued to push back. Wilkerson and Sakho made consecutive baskets, and just like that the Bearkats pulled within 70-68 at the 3:54 mark.
That was as close as it would get the rest of the way as the Blue Raiders were able to hold off Sam Houston when Wilkerson's game-tying shot in the final seconds did not fall.
The game was a grind from the onset.
MTSU cut it to 9-8, but Boykin drilled a 3 with 14:04 on the clock to push the lead back to four. Ndiaye threw down a dunk, and Wilkerson connected from behind the arc as the Bearkats went up 17-10.
The Blue Raiders again cut the lead to one only to see
Josiah Hammons answer with another Sam Houston 3 for a 20-16 advantage midway through the opening period. But Middle Tennessee made its first run of the half to take its first lead at 24-22.
Boykin made sure it was short lived for the time being. He hit his second 3 of the game to put the Kats back up one with just under seven minutes before the half.
It was back and forth the rest of the way until Wilkerson hit a basket in the final minute to send Sam Houston into the break on top 38-36.
The Kats turnaround and defend Johnson Coliseum again Saturday against Western Kentucky at 2:30 p.m.
