STILLWATER, Okla. — Sam Houston pushed Oklahoma State to the end before falling too far behind down the stretch in a 93-83 loss at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Tuesday.
The Bearkats (5-3) used another big shooting night from behind the arc to lead by as many as seven, going 14 for 37 from 3 following 16 for 27 in an 94-68 win over Idaho last week.
Po'Boigh King, who made a career-high six 3s Tuesday, led the team with 20 points.
As good as Sam Houston was from long range, the Cowboys (8-0) opened the second half with some key shots. Oklahoma State went on a 18-8 run to trim the Kats' seven-point half time lead to 55-51.
Sam Houston hit a snag on the offensive end. The Bearkats went more than six minutes without a field goal until
Kashie Natt, who had nine points and six rebounds, hit a jumper to keep SHSU within a couple of possessions.
Freshman
Jacob Walker, who added 14 points, hit a shot, and
Isaiah Manning, who scored 16, took a layup all the way for a three-point play possibility with eight minutes to go. He made the free throw to get Sam Houston back to a 70-65 deficit after falling behind by 10.
Walker made a pair of free throws and then a 3 to make it 72-70 with under six minutes left.
Jaxson Ford also made a key jumper down the stretch to keep it a two-point game, but Sam Houston just couldn't even it back up as the Cowboys held on.
The Bearkats were in control in the first half.
King and Natt opened the scoring with a pair of 3-pointers right out of the gate. Manning then made it three in a row as Sam Houston took an early 9-8 lead.
Justin Begg followed with a 3, and Manning scored consecutive baskets to make it 17-13 five minutes into the contest. A step-back 3 from King gave the Kats a six-point advantage.
The Cowboys fought back to take the lead with a three-point play to cap a 7-0 run. King answered, though, and drilled his third 3 to put Sam Houston back up 31-29 at the 4:45 mark.
King, who scored 17 first-half points, stayed hot, and sent the Bearkats into the break with the momentum. He sank Sam Houston's 11th long ball of the half to make it 43-37.
The Kats will travel to Houston on Saturday to take on Texas Southern at 4 p.m.
