Fairfield, CT (SportsNetwork.com) - Demarcus Gatlin led the Bearkats with 18 points as Sam Houston State earned a 93-85 victory over the South Dakota Coyotes in a triple-overtime thriller as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Webster Bank Arena.

Marcus Burwell posted 14 points and eight rebounds for SHSU (2-1), which will take on Fairfield on Saturday in the next stage of the round-robin tournament. Michael Holyfield also had eight boards to go along with 12 points, while Jamal Williams chipped in 13 points in 17 minutes off the bench.

For the Coyotes (0-3), Brandon Bos netted a game-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor. Tyler Larson notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards, while Tre Burnette recorded a double-double of his own with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Trey Norris rounded out the double-digit scorers for South Dakota with 10 points. The Coyotes will take on Wofford on Saturday.

USD took a 33-30 lead into the intermission after it connected on 43.3 percent of its field goal attempts in the opening period. The Bearkats trailed at the break despite hitting on 50 percent of their shots from the floor in the first half.

The lead changed hands six times in the second half and the score was tied on seven occasions going into the final minute of regulation. With the Coyotes trailing, 65-62, and time winding down in the second half, Larsen overcame a foul by SHSU's Paul Baxter to make a layup. Larsen then evened the score with a successful free-throw attempt and Kaheem Ransom, who finished 2-of-13 from the floor, missed a potentially-game winning 3-point try at the buzzer.

SHSU trailed, 74-71, with possession and the shot clock off near the end of the first overtime period. Gatlin evened the score with a make from beyond the arc off of a Ransom assist to force a second overtime.

Both sides scored just five points in the second extra session. Norris had a 3-point try fall off the mark with 36 seconds showing on the game clock and Ransom turned it over before time expired with the score still tied at 79.

The Bearkats ended the game on a 10-2 run as Gatlin scored five points in the final 31 seconds of the third overtime.

Despite the loss, USD finished with a 51-45 advantage on the glass. SHSU outscored the Coyotes, 25-13, at the free-throw line.