Game 22 • at Western Kentucky • Thursday, 8 p.m. • CBS Sports Network • Listen Live • Live Stats
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — There is no rest for the weary when it comes to Conference USA play, and Sam Houston will face the next difficult test on the road at Western Kentucky on Thursday.
The only blemish to this point on the Bearkats' conference record is a road loss at Liberty on Jan. 20. Sam Houston (12-9) rebounded from that with two straight home wins over New Mexico State and UTEP to remain in first place atop the league standings at 5-1.
It's not going to be an easy feat to top the Hilltoppers at E.A. Diddle Arena. Western Kentucky is 9-0 in its home gym and is coming off a 105-91 victory over FIU on Jan. 25.
The Kats and Hilltoppers met at Johnson Coliseum on Jan. 10 in an instant classic that did not disappoint.
Jaden Ray hit the game-winning shot in the closing seconds to lead Sam Houston to a 78-74 nail-biting victory over Western Kentucky in that meeting.
The Bearkats led for the majority of the second half when the Hilltoppers (12-4) rallied to take their first lead since the 8:01 mark at 67-66. It was back and forth from there.
Lamar Wilkerson came up with a huge shot to put Sam Houston up 74-72 with 55 seconds to go in the game. WKU tied it again a few seconds later to set up Ray's heroics.
The senior from Midwest City, Okla., drove the lane and found the bottom of the net with a floater to put the Kats up for good at the 14.9 mark.
Marcus Boykin made two free throws with three seconds left to ice it and move Sam Houston to 2-0 in Conference USA.
Wilkerson led the Kats with 21 points, and Boykin added a career-high 17 with seven rebounds.
Souleymane Doumbia added 12 points and tied a career-high with three blocks.
Following Thursday's game, Sam Houston has a quick turnaround with a trip down south to Miami to face FIU at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. This will be the third meeting between the Bearkats and Golden Panthers with the guys in orange and white holding a 2-1 meeting.
The teams have not met on the court since 2010 when Sam Houston squeaked out a 74-71 win on the road.
Tipoff for Thursday's game is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and audio streaming on the Bearkats Sports Network.
NOTES
• The game against UTEP was Damon Nicholas Jr.'s first double-double of the season and the second of his career. His first career one came against Troy on Nov. 20.
• The Kats clearly wanted to attack the paint against the Miners, taking their fewest first half 3-pointers with only six attempts. While the other 28 shot attempts were within the arc.
• Sam Houston had 20 more total rebounds than UTEP. This was the 11th time the Kats have outrebounded a team this season and the third time the margin was 10 or more.
• The Bearkats are the fifth-winningest program among the 23 Division I teams in Texas since the beginning of the 2013-14 season (only behind SMU, SFA, Baylor and Houston)
