Jan. 28, 2009
Box Score
Ashton Mitchell scored 36 points in leading Sam Houston State to a 112-105 double-overtime win over Lamar at the Montagne Center Wednesday night.
Lamar (11-8, 2-4 Southland) had seven players finish in double figures, led by Brandon McThay's 22 points. Ashton Hall made three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points and seven rebounds before fouling out.
The Cardinals and Bearkats combined to set a total of seven team and individual Montagne Center records. Both squads established new marks for free throws made and attempted by both Lamar and an opponent. Mitchell's 22-of-27 from the charity stripe both set new benchmarks for an individual in the 25-year-old facility.
McThay gave Lamar a 99-98 lead on a 3-pointer with 4:23 left in the second overtime before the teams misfired on their next five field goals. Mitchell scored 10 of Sam Houston's final 12 points as they outscored Lamar 14-6 in the game's final 2:23.
Lamar trailed by as many as 12 late in the first half and by eight with just under 16 minutes left in regulation only to fight back and tie the game 70-70 with 8:23 to play. From there the final eight minutes saw four tie scores with neither team leading by more than four. McThay tied the game at 87-87 on a 3-pointer with 13.1 seconds left to force the first overtime.
The Bearkats led 92-96 in the first overtime before the Cardinals got a pair of free throws from Anthony Miles and a jumper in the lane from Ashton Hall to knot the score at 96 with 36 tics left. Mitchell's 15-foot jumper was off target and the teams went to the second extra session.
Lamar shot 46 percent in the game and held a 38-36 rebounding edge. Charlie Harper posted his first double-double of the season with a career-high 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jay Brown finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Kenny Dawkins, Skyler Williams and Coy Custer added 10 points each.
Sam Houston (10-8, 4-1 SLC) shot 51 percent from the floor and was 46-of-55 from the free throw line for 84 percent. DeLuis Ramirez and Corey Allmond each had 18 points.
The teams combined to shoot 107 free throws - 88 of them were made - as a result of 68 fouls with each team being whistled for 34 apiece. Seven players fouled out including four of Lamar's starters.
Lamar will return to action on Saturday when UTSA (12-6, 3-2 SLC) travels to Beaumont. Tip-off at the Montagne Center is 7:05 p.m.
