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HOUSTON – HBU shot 53 percent from the floor in the first half but the offense went cold in the second half as the Huskies dropped an 86-78 decision to Sam Houston State in Southland Conference men's basketball action inside Sharp Gym on Saturday evening.
 
Freshman David Caraher led the Huskies (6-21, 2-12 SLC) with 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 9-of-10 at the free throw line, while adding six rebounds. Junior Braxton Bonds narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds while adding three assists. Ian DuBose ended the night with 13 points and eight rebounds while Oliver Lynch-Daniels added eight points off the bench and Chukuka Emili blocked a career-high four shots.
 
With the game tied 6-6 early, HBU went on a six-point run and a pair of DuBose free throws put the Huskies ahead 12-6 less than four minutes into the game. Freddy Bitondo completed a three-point play at the 13:48 mark to pull Sam Houston State (17-11, 11-4 SLC) within three but the Huskies again used a run, reeling off eight-straight on a pair of baskets from Jalon Gates and a Caraher three to go up 24-13.
 
The Bearkats pulled within seven at the nine minute mark but a Bonds three with 6:45 left in the half gave HBU a 13-point advantage. HBU's largest lead of the game, 14, came late in the half with Lynch-Daniels bringing the score to 44-30 with just 2:39 on the clock but Sam Houston State scored the final six points of the half to send the game into halftime with the Huskies leading 44-36.
 
SHSU scored the first four points of the second half to pull within four and got as close as two in the first three minutes. DuBose pushed it back to an eight-point lead with 14:52 on the clock but Sam Houston State evened the score at 55-55 at the 11:38 mark.
 
SHSU took a 61-58 lead with 9:42 remaining and things remained tight over the next four minutes with a Caraher layup at the 5:44 mark bringing HBU ahead 70-69. With 2:33 left, a Chris Galbreath Jr. jumper extended the Bearkat lead to four before a pair of Caraher free throws and one by Philip McKenzie pulled the Huskies to within one with less than two minutes to go. Over the final 1:29, though, the Bearkats outscored the Huskies 9-2.
 
"They've got a terrific ball club," said head coach Ron Cottrell. "They're competing to win the conference championship, and our guys, on our home court, came out ready to play. We really, really competed hard. I thought early on we did a great job of executing our offense, getting the shots that we wanted to get, and knocking those shots down. But anytime you're playing a team as experienced as Sam Houston State, you know they are going to make runs back at you."

The two teams were closely matched on the boards with HBU holding a slim 39-38 advantage with 13 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end. Defensively, the Huskies forced the Bearkats into 14 turnovers while committing 13.
 
Galbreath led Sam Houston State with a career-high 33 points while grabbing 14 rebounds. The senior was 13-of-21 from the floor. Abrian Edwards added nine points, eight assists and six rebounds while Josh Delaney gave SHSU 14 points off the bench.

"We've got four games left," Cottrell added. "We've got some time to get some more experience for these young guys, finish the year strong for our two seniors. But it's all about building, and growing, and getting better every game. I think we're continuing to do that."
 
The Huskies remain at home for their next contest, a Wednesday, Feb. 21, matchup with Lamar inside Sharp Gym at 7:00 p.m.