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.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Nacogdoches – Jabari Peters scored 21 points including a three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining that gave Sam Houston a 77-76 men’s basketball victory over James Madison on the first night of the E-Tech Lumberjack Classic Friday.

Paul Baxter, Aurimas Majauskas and Torrance Motley also scored in double figures for the Bearkats who lifted their second record to 6-3.

Baxter and Majauskas each scored 11 points while Motley had 10.

The JMU Dukes took a 36-32 lead into the locker room at intermission and were ahead by as many as 13 points, 49-36, with 14:31 remaining in the contest.

Sam Houston trailed by eight points, 67-59, with 5:26 to play when a three-pointer by Dakarai Henderson started an 11-3 run for the Bearkats.

Majauskas tied the game 70-70 with a layup with 2:39 remaining.

After a pair of lead changes, JMU appeared in control again.

Ron Curry hit the front end of a two-shot foul to give the Dukes a 76-74 lead with 53 seconds.

But Curry missed the second charity shot.

Nathaniel Mason pulled down the rebound to set up Peters’ game-winning trey, one of three baskets for the junior from beyond the arc.

The Dukes missed a jumper with two seconds remaining to clinch the Kats’ their fourth win away from home this year.

Kaheem Ransom led the Bearkats with nine rebounds.

Peters assisted on five other Sam Houston baskets.

The SHSU men take on Towson today at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Sam Houston’s second contest at the tournament being hosted by Stephen F. Austin.