LUBBOCK — Sam Houston pestered No. 10 Texas Tech on Friday evening, but the Red Raiders were able to pull away for a 98-77 victory at United Supermarket Arena.
The Bearkats were a thorn in the Red Raiders' side for most of the night. Sam Houston was on fire from the field, hitting 50 percent of its shots from both inside and outside the arc to build a four-point lead in the first half.
Kashie Natt, who had a double-double with 11 boards and 16 points, gave the Kats their first lead with a layup to make it 11-10 five minutes into the game. The teams traded baskets with Texas Tech going up 3 until senior
Veljko Ilic, who scored 13, hit a free throw and a layup to tie it at 22.
Freshman
Jacob Walker, who scored a game-high 17 points in the season opening win over LeTourneau on Monday, also scored on a layup, and Ilic buried a jumper to give Sam Houston its biggest lead of the night at 26-22 with just under eight minutes left in the half.
The Red Raiders knocked down some shots to take a 10-point lead into the break.
Walker hit a 3 to make it a six-point lead early in the second half. That was as close as it got the rest of the way.
Ilic hit a jumper with nine minutes to go to keep Sam Houston in range, trailing 71-59 with nine minutes on the clock. The Red Raiders strung together a run to pull away for the victory.
Justin Begg led the Kats with 17 points, going 3 for 8 from 3.
Po'Boigh King and
Matt Dann each added seven points.
Sam Houston stays on the road to face Utah on Nov. 15 in Salt Lake City at 8 p.m.
