HUNTSVILLE — Three weeks into the season and the Sam Houston men's basketball squad is finally coming to Johnson Coliseum to face Trinity in the home opener Thursday evening.
 
The Bearkats are fresh off an 85-72 victory over Lamar at the Neches Arena on Sunday. The win pushed Sam Houston's record to 2-2 with losses to Nevada and No. 12 Baylor and wins over Tarleton and the Cardinals.
  
Kalifa Sakho had a breakout game for the Kats. The Utah State transfer more than tripled his career best with 22 points and six boards. Lamar Wilkerson, who leads Sam Houston in scoring at 18.3 points per game, produced a new career best with 28 points on 6 of 10 shooting from 3-point range.
 
Three other Bearkats are averaging double figures and scoring so far this season. Kansas State transfer Dorian Finister is second on the team with 11.5 points a contest and senior Kian Scroggins and Incarnate Word transfer Josiah Hammons both are scoring 10.0 a game.
 
It has been 56 years since the Bearkats and Tigers met on the court. Trinity leads the all-time series 10-5 with the last victory coming 100-92 on Dec. 13, 1968.
 
The two teams have traveled different paths since then. Trinity is Division III and Sam Houston made the jump to Division I in 1987, winning five conference titles (four in the Southland and one in Conference USA) along with two NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
Thursday's tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate or online at www.gobearkats.com and the game will be streamed online on ESPN+ and the radio call will be on BSN.