RENO, Nevada — Sam Houston is headed out West in search of gold on the basketball court when the it tips off the season at Nevada on Monday.
The defending Conference USA champion Bearkats are on the road for the season opener for the third consecutive year. Sam Houston won at Pacific in 2023 and shocked Oklahoma in Norman in 2022.
The Kats enjoyed another 20-win season under then rookie head coach Chris Mudge, who was named the CUSA Coach of the Year, for leading Sam Houston to a 13-3 record and regular season championship in his first season.
The Kats will have some help with a mixture of returners and newcomers.
Lamar Wilkerson was tabbed preseason All-CUSA after a breakout 2023-24 campaign. He was named first-team all-conference for leading the team in scoring at 13.8 and made 52 3-point baskets while shooting 34.7 percent from long range.
He is joined by honorable mention All-CUSA selection Cameron Huefner along with starting guards Marcus Boykin and Damon Nicholas Jr. and sixth man Kian Scroggins. Sam Houston will look to transfers Kalifa Sakho, Brennen Burns, Dorian Finister and Josiah Hammons will bridge the gap left from last year's former players.
The Bearkats and Wolfpack will tip at 9 p.m. CST and will be broadcast on the Mountain West Newtwork. Click on the following link to watch.
