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HOUSTON – The HBU men's basketball team dropped a 95-75 decision to visiting Sam Houston State on Saturday evening in Southland Conference play inside Sharp Gym.
 
Junior Guard Ian DuBose led all players with 27 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the floor. The Southland's leading scorer raised his season average to 19.7 points per game and brought his career total to 1,191 to move into 20^th on the program's all-time scoring list. DuBose was 7-of-10 from the free throw line, 2-of-5 from three, and added a team-best six rebounds.
 
Noah Thomasson, a freshman guard, finished the night 6-of-8 from the field and added 14 points while fellow freshman Myles Pierre had 12 points and a career-best three steals. Qon Murphy added 11 points off the bench and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
 
The Huskies (1-14, 1-5 SLC) scored the first four points of the game but the Bearkats (13-6, 6-2 SLC) ran off 10-straight points in a four minute stretch to lead 14-4 with 14:15 left on the clock. A few minutes later, HBU used a 6-0 burst that included four points from Pierre to cut the deficit to four, 18-14, but SHSU managed to extended its lead back to at least seven for the rest of the half and led 46-33 at the intermission.
 
In the second half, HBU was able to get to within 11 but no closer as the Bearkats held off the Huskies throughout the period with both teams shooting an identical 15-of-26 from the floor in the half.
 
HBU finished the night shooting 41.1 percent (23-of-56) but struggled from deep, connecting on just 20 percent (4-of-20). The Bearkats, meanwhile, shot 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from deep and 55 percent (33-of-60) for the night.
 
Zach Nutall led SHSU in both scoring and rebounding with 23 points and seven boards. In total, five different Bearkats scored in double-figures. SHSU also held a small 34-32 advantage on the boards.
 
The Huskies will be on the road for their next two contests beginning Wednesday, Jan. 22, with a visit to Thibodaux, La. to face Nicholls at 7:00 p.m. followed by a visit to Lake Charles, La. to take on McNeese at 3:30 p.m.