HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — In a game ultimately decided at the free-throw line, the Sam Houston Bearkats outlasted the Wyoming Cowboys 78-70 in a non-conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats, improving to 2-2, leveraged a massive disparity in free-throw efficiency to secure the victory. Sam Houston converted 29 of 33 attempts from the charity stripe, a stark contrast to Wyoming’s struggles, as the Cowboys made just 9 of 22.

Despite the final margin, the game was a tightly contested affair throughout. Sam Houston took a narrow 37-32 lead into halftime and managed to slightly extend that advantage in the second half, outscoring Wyoming 41-38.

The contest was a tale of contrasting offensive styles. While Wyoming held a slight edge in field goal percentage, shooting 28 of 62 compared to Sam Houston’s 22 of 52, the Bearkats’ relentless attack on the interior and subsequent trips to the foul line proved to be the difference. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with each making five three-pointers.

Wyoming guard Leland Walker was the game’s leading scorer, pouring in 24 points and dishing out six assists in 32 minutes of action. His efforts kept the Cowboys within striking distance, but the team’s inability to capitalize on free opportunities ultimately proved costly.

Sam Houston’s victory was a balanced effort, led by a dominant performance in the paint from Veljko Ilic. The 6-foot-10 forward from Serbia scored 18 points, with a significant portion coming from a perfect 8-for-8 performance at the free-throw line. He was complemented by Isaiah Manning, who added 15 points, and the backcourt duo of Damon Nicholas and Po’Boigh King, who each chipped in 11 points.

For Wyoming, now 4-1, Abou Magassa provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, while Nasir Meyer also contributed 11 points in a reserve role. The Cowboys won the battle on the offensive glass, grabbing 13 rebounds to Sam Houston’s 11, but coughed the ball up 14 times.

The game featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes, underscoring its back-and-forth nature. A key sequence late in the second half saw Sam Houston use a 7-0 run, fueled by free throws from Ilic and a three-pointer from King, to create separation and build a lead that Wyoming could not overcome in the final minutes.

The announced attendance was 1,551.

Wyoming will look to rebound when it returns home to host Norfolk State on Sunday. Sam Houston continues its homestand Saturday against Schreiner.