Kats end 3-game skid with win over Delaware

HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston took advantage of much-needed home game to snap a three-game Conference USA losing streak with a 72-60 victory over Delaware on Thursday at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats (9-6, 1-3) began league play with three straight road games, having only played in Huntsville just one time in their previous nine games. Po'Boigh King led the team with 22 points, and Veljko Ilic posted his third consecutive double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Sam Houston finished the first period strong to build a six-point lead then kept it up to begin the second. An 13-4 run featuring a four-point play by King, extended the Kats' lead to 48-33, the largest of the night until that point.

Like the first half when Sam Houston had a chance to put some distance between it and the Blue Hens, a scoring drought allowed Delaware (5-10, 1-3) to stay in it. The Bearkats went 0 for 5 and almost three minutes without any points to allow the Blue Hens to trim it to 48-42 at the 13:21 mark with a 9-0 run.

A jumper by King and a reverse layup under the basket by sophomore Justin Begg snapped Sam Houston out of its funk. Begg followed with a 3 and just like that the lead was back up to 55-44.

Begg finished with 11 points as Delaware never got any closer than six the rest of the game.

Sam Houston led by seven multiple times in the opening quarter including at 16-9 when freshman Jacob Walker knocked down a 3 with just over 13 minutes to go in the half. The Kats hit an offensive slump after that, going 0 for 10 for close to four minutes as the Blue Hens got as close as one.

Senior Kashie Natt, who finished with nine points, finally ended the drought when he hit a 3 from the left top of the key to push the lead back to 20-16. It remained close until back-to-back driving layups by Jaxson Ford, who chipped in six points, and a 3 and jumper by King pushed the lead back to 29-22 with just over five minutes to go in the half.

Delaware was able to get it back to a two-game, but a layup by Ilic and a pair of free throws by King sent Sam Houston into the break on top 35-29.

The Bearkats will be back in action on Saturday when they host preseason CUSA favorite Liberty at 2:30 p.m.

Kats end 3-game skid with win over Delaware

Players Mentioned

Justin Begg

Jaxson Ford

Veljko Ilic

Po'Boigh King

Kashie Natt

Jacob Walker

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