Box Score



HAMMOND – Sam Houston State's Demarcus Gatlin scored a team-high 17 points, including a go-ahead baseline jumper with 4.3 seconds remaining, and the Bearkats erased a seven-point deficit at halftime to edge Southeastern Louisiana, 57-55, in a Southland Conference game Saturday at the University Center.

Konner Tucker scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half while Steven Werner added 10 as SHSU (9-14, 3-6 SLC) outscored Southeastern (8-13, 2-7 SLC), 32-23, in the second half and snapped a four-game losing streak.

Southeastern built a 32-25 lead at halftime and led by as many as nine in the second half before SHSU rallied behind the play of Gatlin and Tucker. Darius Gatson and Tucker hit back-to-back 3-pointers that cut a 43-35 Southeastern lead to 43-41 at the 10:49 mark in the contest before Tucker scored five straight, including a go-ahead 3-pointer for a 46-45 lead with 9:23 remaining.

After Todd Nelson scored on a short jumper to tie the game at 49-49, Southeastern claimed a 52-49 lead when Roosevelt Johnson converted on a three-point play with 4:14 left. Gatson answered for the Bearkats with a 3-pointer and later added a free throw that put SHSU ahead, 53-52, with 2:28 remaining.

Two free throws by Elgin Bailey gave Southeastern a 54-53 advantage with 1:13 left before a basket by Werner put SHSU back on top with 47 seconds remaining.

After Bailey made one of two free throws with 22.6 seconds left to tie the game at 55-55, SHSU worked the ball to Gatlin who scored from the right baseline for the eventual game-winner.

Southeastern had one last chance to send the game to overtime, but Jeremy Campbell lost the ball and SHSU grabbed the loose ball to preserve the win.

Nelson scored a career-high 17 points to lead Southeastern while Johnson added 16. Campbell added 10 points and six rebounds for the Lions, who finished 16-for-47 (34.0 percent) for the game and 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) in the second half.