HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Corey Avery ran for 125 yards and three touchdowns and Jared Johnson threw for 267 yards as Sam Houston State beat Division II Texas A&M-Commerce 38-24 on Saturday night.

Sam Houston State (6-2) was up 24-10 at the break. The Lions (7-2) tied the score in the third when Harrison Stewart, who threw for 432 yards, passed to Derick Macon from the 10 for the score to trail 24-17, and on the next series hit Lance Evans on a 39-yard scoring strike tie the score at 24-24 with 5:07 remaining in the third.

Avery answered with a 1-yard scoring plunge to go ahead 31-24 with 2:14 left in the third and Johnson sealed the win with a 24-yard scoring run with 9:19 left in the game.

Sam Houston, which opened the season with two straight losses, now has a six-game winning streak. The Bearkats face Southland Conference-leading McNeese State next week.