SALT LAKE CITY — Sam Houston took Utah's best shot early then battled back to make it a close contest late in an 83-79 loss to the Utes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday night.
The Bearkats (1-2) trailed by as many as 20 points in the second half, but the defense made some stops, and the guys made some clutch shots to make it a one-possession game in the final seconds.
Sam Houston was down 15 with six minutes to go in the game when it started chipping away. True freshman
Jacobe Coleman cut the lead to 79-75 with a clutch 3. Senior
Kashie Natt knocked in a pair of free throws to trim it to 2 only to see the Utes get the job done at the line down the stretch to seal it.
The Bearkats were down 12 when Coleman, who scored 12 of his team-high 17 points in the first half, drove the lane for layup to make it 29-21. Sophomore
CJ Beaumont knocked down a jumper and just like that it was a two-possession game with 3:27 left in the half.
Senior
Veljko Ilic powered his way inside for a layup for two of his eight first-half points to get Sam Houston within five. Coleman then turned a steal into a 3-pointer and just like that it was a 32-30. The Utes closed the half on a 5-0 run to lead by seven through one period.
Utah opened the second half with a 20-7 run to put some distance between it and Sam Houston.
Justin Begg, who scored 16, did go on a 5-0 run of his own with a 3 and a pair of free throws to get the Kats back within 15 at 60-45.
A 3-pointer by Damon Nichollas Jr. at the 3:57 mark started the Bearkats' rally as it got them within 77-68.
Isaiah Manning also made a pair of shots at the free throw line that setup Coleman's 3 two minutes later.
Sophomore
Isaiah Manning chipped in 13 points, Ilic added 10, Nicholas finished with nine and Natt had seven. The Kats and Blue Hens both shot 43 percent from the floor.
Sam Houston has a pair of home games next week. The Bearkats will host Wyoming on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Schreiner on Nov. 22 at 2:30 p.m.
