Recap: Sam Houston St vs. UC Irvine

Huntsville, TX (Sports Network) - The Sam Houston State Bearkats needed overtime to take down the UC Irvine Anteaters, 65-63, in the Huntsville sub-regional finale of the Legends Classic.

DeMarcus Gatlin scored 15 to lead the Bearkats (3-3), who won despite shooting 31.0 percent from the floor and 52.0 percent from the free throw line. Darius Gatson added 13 points.

No starter for UC Irvine (3-3) reached double figures. Chris McNealy scored a game-high 16 points off the bench while Adam Folker and Will Davis II combined for 25 rebounds.

SHSU led for most of the first half and went into the locker room with a 30-25 advantage. The Bearkats knocked down 5-of-10 shots from behind the arc in the half and scored 10 points off of turnovers.

Gatson's jumper with less than two minutes remaining gave the Bearkats a four point lead. Folker made two layups to tie the game and a Gatlin jumper was off the mark. Regulation concluded with the score tied at 58-58.

Both teams traded baskets throughout the overtime period. Down one with 13 seconds remaining, Gatson converted a layup to give SHSU the lead. UC Irvine had a chance to tie or take the lead but Daman Starring turned the ball over with three seconds left, and the Bearkats held on for the win.