Recap: Sam Houston St vs. Central Arkansas

Katy, TX (Sports Network) - James Thomas registered a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds as the sixth-seeded Sam Houston State Bearkats defeated the seventh-seeded Central Arkansas Bears, 69-63, in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.

Darius Gatson tallied a team-high 19 points and swiped two steals for the Bearkats (16-16), who will take on the third-seed Oral Roberts in the next round.

LaQuentin Miles tallied 19 points to pace Central Arkansas (13-17), which also received 16 points off the bench from DeShone McClure. Jarvis Garner just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds for the Bears, who had won their previous three games.

Sam Houston State went 9-of-19 from 3-point range to make up for a poor, 10- of-22 showing at the charity stripe. Central Arkansas lost despite holding a slight, 37-36, edge in the rebounding battle.