HUNTSVILLE, Texas (KBTX) - Sam Houston came out red-hot from long range to fend off NM State 76-69 in the regular season finale at Johnson Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

Lamar Wilkerson finally set a new career high with 32 points after four times scoring 29 this season including Thursday’s win over UTEP as the Bearkats (13-18, 6-12) closed Conference USA play with two straight victories. Wilkerson and Josiah Hammons, who finished with 15 points, combined to go 12 for 17 from 3-point range.

Sam Houston led by as many as 13 in the opening 20 minutes when Hammons knocked down two of his five 3s on the day to make it 41-28 with five minutes left. The Aggies were able to cut it to five, but Cameron Huefner added a pair of free throws in the final seconds to send the Kats into the break with a seven-point lead.

NM State was able to pull within two at 69-67 with 2:10 to go in the contest. Stuck on 27 points for most of the second half, Wilkerson was able to set his new career best when he drilled a 3 from the right wing 30 second later for what would prove to be the dagger.

Sam Houston closed the game out at the free throw line with Marcus Boykin making a pair to give him 18 points on the day. Kalifa Sakho added six points and Huefner finished with five.

The Bearkats will be the ninth seed at the Conference USA Championships on Tuesday in Huntsville, Alabama and will play an opponent yet to be determined at 5:30 p.m.