Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Despite a strong defensive effort by Sam Houston State, Toledo remained undefeated rallying for a 77-61 victory over the Bearkats in a non-conference men’s basketball game on the Rockets’ home floor Saturday afternoon.

Now 9-0 for the year, Toledo came into the contest ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division I men’s basketball scoring with a team average of 90.5 points per game.

Sam Houston, now 7-4 for the season, limited the Rockets to 28 first half points and held a 36-30 lead two minutes into the second half.

But Toledo got its scoring touch back, going on a 23-7 run over the next nine minutes to build a 10-point lead, 53-43, with 8:22 to play.

The Rockets out-scored Sam Houston 49-31 in the second period.

Paul Baxter and Jabari Peters led Sam Houston with nine points each.

James Thomas scored eight points and Michael Holyfield and Kaheem Ransom each added six points.

Holyfield led the Kats with eight rebounds and Thomas and Ransom pulled down seven boards.

Justin Drummond led Toledo with 18 points.

Sam Houston took an early seven point lead, 19-12 after a three-point basket by Dakarai Henderson with 12:29 to go in the first half.

Toledo battled back to take a 24-23 lead at the 5:41 mark.

Sam Houston went into the locker room with a 30-28 lead at intermission after two free throws by Peters with four seconds left in the period.

Sam Houston breaks for the Chrismas holidays.

The Bearkats’ next action is a home game with LIU-Brooklyn on Saturday, December 28 at 4 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston stands No. 10 in the National Ten Pins Coaches Association December rankings for NCAA Division I women’s bowling.

The newly released rankings reflect play in tournament competition across the nation during the fall semester.

The Bearkat women compiled a record of 44-21 during the fall, competing in five tournaments.

Sam Houston won the Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, Ala. and were the runner-up at the Tulane Classic in the fall schedule’s opening event.

The Bearkats also finished fifth at the Nebraska Big Red Classic and seventh in both the New Jersey Jamboree and the Valparaiso Classics.

Sam Houston posted 15 victories in their 34 matches against teams ranked in the preseason NTCA top 20 including wins over Arkansas State and Central Missouri, the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively in the December poll.

“The fall half of the schedule was a learning curve for our talented young roster,” SHSU head coach Brad Hagen said. “We have a lot to build on in the spring.”

Arkansas State garnered the top spot in the rankings with a 31-11 record. Maryland-Eastern Shore, Central Missouri, Fairleigh Dickinson and Stephen F. Austin round out the top five.

Nebraska, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Vanderbilt, Kutztown and Sam Houston are ranked sixth through tenth, respectively.

Since debuting in the NTCA national rankings on December 18, 2010, during the program’s inaugural season, Sam Houston’s women’s bowlers have been ranked among the nation’s top 10 in every poll.

The Bearkats earned berths in the NCAA Elite Eight in both 2011 and 2013.

Twice the Kat bowlers have been ranked as high as No. 5

Courtesy: Brandon K. Scott/SHSU Athletics

Southeastern Louisiana marched 85 yards downfield in 45 seconds to convert on a game-winning drive against Sam Houston State on Saturday.

The Lions defeated the Bearkats 30-29 to advance to the quarterfinal round against New Hampshire.

Sam Houston gave up an early 21-7 first quarter lead and trailed 24-21 at halftime.

The Kats, however, shut down Southeastern in the second half until the final two minutes of the game.

Southland Conference Player of the Year Bryan Bennett connected with for a one-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Smiley, which ultimately sealed the victory for Southeastern.

The Kats led 14-0 less than five minutes into the game, due to an 11-yard touchdown run by Torrance Williams and a pick-6 by De’Antrey Loche – his third of the season.

Then Southeastern came roaring back with touchdowns from Bennett, Rasheed Harrell, Marquis Fruge and a 25-yard field goal by Seth Sebastian.

The Bearkats recorded three rushing touchdowns, another on defense and a safety against Southeastern.

Sam Houston led 29-24 in the fourth quarter before Southeastern’s game-winning drive.

This was Sam Houston’s third straight trip to the FCS playoffs, with the previous two ending in losses in the championship game against North Dakota State.

Timothy Flanders ended the night with 21 carries for 82 yards rushing and a touchdown to lead the Bearkats offensively.