The win streak extends to five games as the Sam Houston Bearkat men’s basketball team win 88-54 against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Tuesday in the Fort Myers Tip-Off opener.

The Huskies (1-4,0-0) led 4-3 early to begin the game but the Bearkats (5-0) took the lead back after a layup from senior guard Donte Powers who would go on to end the game with 13 points on 50% shooting.

Along with Powers, senior transfer guard Qua Grant continued his impressive play with a game high 19 points. He added five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Sophomore transfer forward Cameron Huefner contributed as well with a career high nine points.

But it was Grant that took over the game again as he would help the Bearkats not concede the lead again for the entire game.

The Bearkats displayed their defense once again by keeping the Huskies at only 22 first-half points to their own 41 points.

While Northern Illinois would score 32 points the next half, Sam Houston scored 47 points. The 88 points total is the most this season against a Division 1 opponent.

The Bearkat defense caused 22 turnovers and scored 34 points off the turnovers.

The bench for Sam Houston also came to play as it scored 46 points. Sophomore guard Lamar Wilkerson led the way off the bench as he hit three 3-pointers, scoring 15 points to go along with four steals.

One thing that troubled the Bearkats to begin the season was the 3-point shot. Before the game, the Bearkats as a team were shooting 25-for-93 (26.9%) from the arc.

The team shot 12-for-22 (54.5%) from the 3-point range against the Huskies.

With this win over the Huskies, the Bearkats achieved a bit of history.

Since 1955, the Bearkats men’s basketball team has now went 5-0 to start the season five times. Those times coming in 1965, 1972, 1979, 2007 and now, 2022.

This also marks the second time it has happened in the school’s time in Division 1. Sam Houston joined D-1 in 1987.

The Bearkats will now await their next opponent as it will either be the Long Island University Sharks or the South Dakota Coyotes.

Tip-off for the game tomorrow will be at 10 a.m. central time.

It will be streamed via https://fswbucs.com/FSWBucsLive or on the radio on 101.7 KSAM.