Jan. 28, 2006
Final Stats
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Senior Jarrett Howell scored a team-high 23 points but that wasn't enough to cool off a hot Sam Houston State team as Texas-Arlington fell to the Bearkats, 91-81, Saturday evening at William R. Johnson Coliseum.
In the second half, Sam Houston State (14-5, 5-2 SLC) increased its lead to 55-38, with 16:26 remaining in the game as Jejuan Plair hit a trey.
Texas-Arlington (11-9, 4-3 SLC) cut the lead to 76-71 on a layup by Howell, with 1:46 remaining in the game. Howell scored four straight points for the Mavericks to give them a chance.
The Bearkats used some clutch free-throw shooting in the final two minutes as they went 15-of-16 from the free-throw line. Chris Jordan made eight of those free throws for Sam Houston State.
"I think the last 10 minutes of the first half was the difference in the game," head coach Eddie McCarter said. "They had more hustle, ran good sets and our transition defense was lacking."
Howell led the Mavericks with 23 points, which included a 13-of-17 night from the charity stripe. The senior also tallied seven assists. Senior Kenneth Henderson registered 14 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Chris Jordan ended the night with 24 points and six assists. Plair tallied 18 points and seven assists to go along with his five rebounds.
Sam Houston State jumped out to an early 12-9 lead at the 14:04 mark of the first half. Jordan and Wade led the Bearkats with five points each.
The Bearkats increased their lead to eight points, taking a 32-24 lead at the 3:56 mark. Jordan tallied five more points and Rawlins came off of the bench to score seven points.
Sam Houston State ended the half on an 11-7 run, which included a three-pointer by Plair at the buzzer.
The Mavericks will be back in action Thursday when they travel to Lake Charles, La. to take on McNeese State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Texas-Arlington defeated the Cowboys twice last season.
