HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- John Dewey III scored 16 points and Josh Boutte had 12 as Sam Houston State held off New Orleans for a 57-54 victory on Wednesday night.

Sam Houston State (18-11, 12-4 Southland Conference) is now in fourth place in the conference standings behind Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana, both 12-3, and Nicholls (13-2). New Orleans (14-13, 11-5) drops to fifth.

Makur Puou had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead New Orleans, which has lost three of its last five games.

Sam Houston State had a 10-point lead with five minutes to play, but Troy Green converted a 3-point play, and Puou and Damion Rosser each made layups during a 7-0 spurt to pull New Orleans to 57-54 with 1:03 remaining. Dionta Champion forced a turnover on the Bearkats' next possession, but Green missed a jumper, and Tyren Harrison missed a 3-pointer with a second left to end it.