The YellowJackets (2-7) forced the Bearkats (6-6) into 15 first half turnovers. SHSU led 27-10 before a 17-5 LETU run narrowed the lead to five points with 1:13 remaining in the first half. Senior guard Jeremiah Bastian keyed the run with a perfect 3-for-3 performance from behind the arc. Bastian finished the game with a team-high 11 points for the ‘Jackets. The Bearkats took a 37-27 lead into halftime.
The second half was a completely different story as Sam Houston showed a strong defense and efficient offense. Joe Thompson led four different players scoring in double figures with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. In the second half, SHSU limited LeTourneau to just 4-of-20 shooting from the floor en route to outscoring them 49-15.
The YellowJackets shot 26.5 percent from the field and were out rebounded 47-23 against the much taller team. The Bearkats shot 54.4 percent from the field and went 18-of-28 from the foul line. Each team proved to be turnover prone with LETU committing 28 and SHSU committing 20 turnovers.
LeTourneau plays again on Thursday night at home in the Solheim Arena against American Southwest Conference rival University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at 7:30. The game can be heard online at www.tsrnsports.com.
LeTourneau University vs Sam Houston State MEN 1/03/05 7 p.m. at Huntsville, TX (Johnson Coliseum) At Huntsville, TX (Johnson Coliseum) SAM HOUSTON STATE MEN 86, LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY 42 LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY (2-7) Jeremiah Bastian 4-5 0-0 11; Jay Burnett 2-3 0-0 5; Daniel McGraner 2-5 0-0 5; Joe Packard 2-4 0-0 4; Joseph Solomon 1-3 0-0 3; Julius McClaskey 1-10 1-2 3; Ashton Torbert 0-1 2-2 2; Tim Butler 1-3 0-0 2; Brandon Morris 0-2 2-2 2; Ryan Curtis 0-2 2-2 2; Jonathan Collins 0-6 2-3 2; Joseph Richards 0-2 1-2 1; Derek Stepan 0-1 0-0 0; Zack Rodriguez 0-0 0-0 0; Travis Bankett 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 13-49 10-15 42. SAM HOUSTON STATE MEN (6-6) Thompson, Joe 5-8 0-0 13; Jordan, Chris 5-9 2-2 12; Fobbs, Eddy 3-4 6-9 12; Griffin, Ryan 5-7 2-3 12; Bright, Ryan 4-5 0-0 9; Alford, Othello 3-4 1-2 9; Auguste, Wilder 2-5 3-3 7; Onwuchekwa, Sam 1-3 1-2 3; Thomas, Jeremy 1-2 1-1 3; Wade, Aaron 1-3 1-2 3; McDaniel, Shamir 1-3 0-0 2; Gernander, Scott 0-1 1-2 1; Williams, Kelvin 0-2 0-0 0; Streeter, Brandon 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 31-57 18-28 86. LeTourneau University......... 27 15 - 42 Sam Houston State MEN......... 37 49 - 86 3-point goals-LeTourneau University 6-21 (Jeremiah Bastian 3-3; Jay Burnett 1-2; Daniel McGraner 1-2; Joseph Solomon 1-3; Brandon Morris 0-1; Jonathan Collins 0-1; Joseph Richards 0-2; Derek Stepan 0-1; Travis Bankett 0-1; Julius McClaskey 0-5), Sam Houston State MEN 6-15 (Thompson, Joe 3-5; Alford, Othello 2-3; Bright, Ryan 1-2; Onwuchekwa, Sam 0-1; Thomas, Jeremy 0-1; McDaniel, Shamir 0-1; Gernander, Scott 0-1; Jordan, Chris 0-1). Fouled out--LeTourneau University-None, Sam Houston State MEN-None. Rebounds-LeTourneau University 23 (Julius McClaskey 5), Sam Houston State MEN 47 (Fobbs, Eddy 8). Assists-LeTourneau University 9 (Joseph Richards 3), Sam Houston State MEN 24 (Streeter, Brandon 5). Total fouls-LeTourneau University 22, Sam Houston State MEN 17. A-984