RIVERSIDE --- Sam Houston was able to withhold California Baptist University in the final seconds on Wednesday night, as the Lancers dropped a hard-fought battle to the Bearkats, 73-68.
CBU moves to 12-8 on the season and 2-5 in the Western Athletic Conference, while SHSU improves to 13-9 on the year and 8-1 in conference play.
Sam Houston came out firing in the early portion of the first half and even led by as many as eight points. CBU responded in the final minutes, going on a 7-0 run to tie the game on a Reed Nottage jumper.
Tre Armstrong gave the Lancers a three-point advantage at the break, knocking down the halftime buzzer-beater with a floater off the glass.
The Bearkats wasted no time in the second half to regain their lead, scoring seven straight points in the opening minute.
"Really disappointing to start the second half like that. Kind of give them just enough edge in that first couple minutes," said CBU head coach Rick Croy. "We fought back again, but when you're fighting uphill, it can be tough. It comes down to a couple plays."
Trailing by six with less than a minute to play, Tre Armstrong produced the hustle play, grabbing the offensive rebound and draining a deep three to bring the game within one possession, 68-65.
Armstrong would then bring the game within two points with 10 seconds on the game clock after being fouled on a three-point attempt. He hit all three of his free throws, and the Lancers were forced to foul, sending the Bearkats to the line. CBU had one final look to tie the game, but a pair of free throws in the final seconds by SHSU sealed the game.
Armstrong finished his night with a team-high 16 points, scoring six straight points for the Lancers in the final 40 seconds. He also tied his season-high in rebounds on the night with seven. Dan Akin was the final Lancer in double figures with 14 points, going 10-11 from the free-throw line with a team-high 11 rebounds.
"There's no time to pout. We have to keep improving. We have to keep fighting," added Croy. "If you do it the right way with the right spirit, you will end up getting good results. That's it. That's all there is. You got to keep track of your process."
UP NEXT:
The Lancers complete their two-game homestand with a first-time matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG:
All home and away games for CBU men's basketball will once again be available through Fox Sports AM1350 in the greater Riverside area and beyond. Braiden Bell will handle play-by-play responsibilities and host pre-game and post-game shows featuring exclusive interviews with the team and Coach Rick Croy. Fans can download the iHeartRadio app for free and listen to the CBU broadcasts from anywhere. Simply search for Fox Sports 1350 when using the iHeartRadio app.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Don't forget to follow @CBUMBB on Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with the season.
