Game 17 • vs Western Kentucky • Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. • Johnson Coliseum • Live Stream • Audio • Live Stats
 
HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston will look to improve to 2-0 in Conference USA when Western Kentucky comes to Johnson Coliseum on Wednesday.
 
The Bearkats (8-8, 1-0) are fresh off an 81-77 victory over Louisiana Tech in the conference opener this past weekend. The Hilltoppers (12-3) are also 1-0 in league play following a 70-68 home win over Liberty.
 
This is the first meeting between Sam Houston and WKU. The only sport the two have played against each other is football with both teams 1-1 against the other.
 
The Kats are trying to begin the season 2-0 in conference for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Sam Houston opened its first season in the Western Athletic Conference with wins over Lamar and UTRGV.
 
The CUSA opener was a thriller for the Bearkats. Lamar Wilkerson hit some clutch shots down the stretch to lead Sam Houston to a win over Louisiana Tech
 
The Bearkats let a halftime lead slip away when the Bulldogs opened the second half with an 8-2 run. Sam Houston fought back and tied it at 52 when Jaden Ray knocked down a 3-pointer six minutes into the half.
 
The Kats retook the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the second half at 61-59 when Wilkerson ran the length of the court and laid a shot off the glass around the nine-minute mark.
 
Sam Houston began to put some distance between itself and Louisiana Tech when another 3 by Wilkerson fell to make it 72-66. Davon Barnes would hit a baseline jumper and Wilkerson would too in the closing minutes as the Bearkats were able to hold on for the win.
 
Wednesday's tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed online on ESPN+. Advance tickets are available at GoBearkats.com.
 
Game Notes
• Whataburger will be giving away free Whataburger for a year to the winner of the Knockout Competition held at halftime during the Bearkats game versus Western Kentucky on Wednesday.

• Lamar Wilkerson scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Bearkats in the win over Louisiana Tech in the program's first Conference USA game. It was one point shy of his career high set in a win at Troy earlier this season. His 13 points at the half were the most for him in the opening 20 minutes this season.
 
• The Bearkats are 1-0 against teams they played for the first time in program history this season. Sam Houston opened the season with a 64-57 victory over Pacific in Stockton, Calif., on Nov. 6.