HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Texans outscored the Bearkats by 13 points in the second half, but a slow start to the game proved too much resulting in a 75-68 loss on Saturday at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
 
"Tough loss for the Texans," said head coach Billy Gillispie. "These are champion young men who I am extremely proud to coach. Sam Houston played an outstanding game."
 
The first half was certainly one the Texans will learn from and quickly put behind them. Tarleton (8-8, 2-2 WAC) fell behind 12-0 to start the game, not picking up their first basket until a Tiger Booker layup broke the Texans' dry spell. Tarleton fought back against Sam Houston (12-4, 2-2 WAC), reducing the Bearkats' lead to eight. The Bearkats answered back with three straight three-pointers over a two-minute span and would go on to make eight three-pointers in the first half alone. An offensive onslaught by Sam Houston grew their lead to as much as 24 points. Tarleton continued to fight and went into the locker room down 44-24.
 
Tarleton returned to the court with an immediate response to the Sam Houston offense. Javontae Hopkins' back-to-back buckets kept the Texans in the game to start. Another scoring wave from the Bearkats built their lead to a game-high 27 points with 16 minutes left in regulation. The Texans refused to lay down, fighting for every rebound and bucket as they chipped away at the Sam Houston lead. A fastbreak three-pointer courtesy of Hopkins brought the Texan bench back to life and brought the Texans within 14 points with nine minutes remaining. The Texans continue to fight their way back, getting within 10 as six straight, unanswered points led by Shamir Bogues and Hopkins. With 46 seconds remaining in the game, an and-one layup by Bogues reduced the Bearkats lead to single-digits. The Texans fought to the last second, ultimately falling to Sam Houston 75-68 after trailing by as much as 27 points.
 
The Texans were led in scoring by the Fireside District Player of the Game, Bogues. He earned a career-high 24 points and picked up nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Hopkins scored his third double-digit scoring performance and a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds. KiAndre Gaddy picked up six points and eight rebounds. Garry Clark scored six points while Lue Williams earned five points. Tiger Booker picked up five points and two rebounds.
 
"We have two exciting double-headers this week and look forward to competing as hard as we can for the greatest fans in the WAC," added Gillispie.
 
The Texans head back to Stephenville where they will play their next two games, starting with Chicago State on Wednesday in front of a rowdy Wisdom crowd. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+ and fans can also listen in on KTRL 90.5 FM.