HUNTSVILLE, Texas – UIW men's basketball trailed Sam Houston by three at halftime, but shot just 30 percent from the floor and scored 29 second-half points as the Bearkats defeated the Cardinals, 72-63, Saturday evening from Johnson Coliseum.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UIW (10-14 overall, 5-8 SLC) wasted little time getting a lead as Shawn Johnson forced a steal and made a fast-break layup 12 seconds into the contest. The Cardinals continued to make turnovers into points as Jerred Kite forced a steal which led to a Johnson three-pointer for an early 5-2 lead.

The teams battled back and forth until Josh Delaney's triple gave the Bearkats (18-8 overall, 9-4 SLC) its largest lead of the game by either team, 17-11, with 11:19 left in the first half. Jalin Hart answered with his own trey, but the Bearkats maintained the lead until a pair of Hart free throws tied the game at 27-all with 4:48 to go in the first half, part of a 7-0 Cardinal run.

A three-pointer by Hart gave UIW a one-point lead, but SHSU ended the half on a 10-4 run for a 37-34 lead.

An and-one play by Simi Socks at the 17:22-mark of the second half made the deficit three, 40-37.

A 7-0 run by the Cardinals, culminated by two made Sam Burmeister free throws, gave UIW a 48-47 lead with 13:33 remaining. As both teams answered with baskets and UIW keeping a one-point lead, SHSU scored five unanswered to take a four-point lead. SHSU ended the game outscoring UIW, 18-13. The Bearkats held a huge 51-9 advantage in bench points.

LEADERS

Hart led all players in scoring for the second-straight game, scoring 20 points. Johnson and Socks each scored 12 and Burmeister chipped in with 10. As a team, the Cardinals shot 37 percent from the floor in the game, just 30 percent in the second half.

Torry Butler registered a double-double of 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds to lead Sam Houston. The Bearkats shot 37 percent from the floor in the contest.

UP NEXT

UIW opens a three-game home stand Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals host SHSU on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.