HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) - James Thomas scored 15 points and Sam Houston State never trailed Saturday in a 54-45 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.
Thomas was 7 of 14 from the floor for the Bearkats (15-14, 8-8), who moved into a tie with Southeastern Louisiana for fourth place in the Southland Conference standings. Each team has two regular-season games remaining.
Brandon Fortenberry scored 22 points for the Lions (10-17, 8-8) but didn't get much help. Fortenberry was 9 of 18 from the field, including three 3-pointers; his teammates were a combined 9 of 32.
The Bearkats scored the first six points of the game and led 27-15 at halftime. The Lions pulled within 45-39 on Fortenberry's 3-pointer with 4:21 left, but SHSU made enough free throws in the final minutes to secure the victory.
Sam Houston State dominated the glass, outrebounding Southeastern Louisiana 39-25, and won despite committing 17 turnovers.
| Scoreboard | |||
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
| Southeastern Louisiana (10-17) | 15 | 30 | 45 |
| Sam Houston State (15-14) « | 27 | 27 | 54 |
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| Southeastern Louisiana Lions | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| R. Woods, F | 27 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| R. Johnson, F | 21 | 1-4 | 2-5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| B. Fortenberry, G | 40 | 9-18 | 1-2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| J. Ricard, G | 34 | 3-9 | 0-2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| D. Evans, G | 26 | 0-7 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| A. Benton | 22 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| T. Nelson | 20 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| O. Ochie | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| J. Campbell | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 18-50 | 3-9 | 25 | 13 | 17 | 45 | |
| 36% | 33.3% | ||||||
| Sam Houston State Bearkats | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| J. Thomas, F | 26 | 7-14 | 1-4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| D. Gatson, G | 34 | 2-5 | 2-2 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| A. Harwell, G | 32 | 0-4 | 1-3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| M. McKinney, G | 31 | 2-7 | 2-2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| P. Baxter, G | 23 | 2-4 | 3-4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| W. Bond | 24 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| M. Holyfield | 16 | 1-2 | 2-2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| N. Mason | 14 | 2-3 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Totals | 17-42 | 13-19 | 39 | 17 | 15 | 54 | |
| 40.5% | 68.4% | ||||||
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