Kats clip Jax State for first CUSA road win

Wednesday, January 14

Jacksonville, Ala.

6:00 PM

10-7,2-4CUSA

Jax State

8-9,3-3CUSA

Sam Houston

Jacksonville St.

Veljko Ilic dunks against Texas Southern

Photo by: Allyson Collins

Kats clip Jax State for first CUSA road win

1/14/2026 8:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Sam Houston got a career night from Veljko Ilic to power through for its first Conference USA road win of the season on Wednesday at Pete Matthews Coliseum.

Ilic dominated inside to score a career high 18 points, and Jacob Walker delivered a knockout shot in the final minutes to finish off the Gamecocks 77-62. The Bearkats (10-7, 2-4) snapped a three-game road losing streak as six players scored in double figures.

Sophomore Justin Begg and junior Damon Nicholas Jr. each scored 11 points. Seniors Kashie Natt and Po'Boigh King both poured in 10 points along with Walker.

Sam Houston came back from an early deficit to build a 12-point lead at the half. Jax State (8-9, 3-3) cut the lead to four, but the Kats pushed it back to 49-40 thanks to a 3 by freshman Jacoby Coleman and a layup by Walker.

The Kats opened it up late by holding the Gamecocks scoreless for close to three minutes. In the meantime, Nicholas and Walker drilled consecutive 3s as Sam Houston matched its biggest lead of the game to that point at 70-58 in the final minutes.

Walker put the game away for good with a 3 at the 1:42 mark make it 75-60.

Sam Houston's defense allowed the team to dig out of an early hole in the first half and spark a 12-0 run to make it 26-15. Begg hit back-to-back 3s, King finished a fastbreak off a steal, and Natt got it started with two free throws and a basket.

The Gamecocks got it down to seven points with three minutes to go in the half, but Sam Houston responded, again led by the defense.

Nicholas got open for a 3 following a turnover, one of eight by Jax State in the opening period. Coleman sent the Kats into the break on top 34-22 with a fastbreak layup off a defensive rebound.

The Bearkats held the Gamecocks to just 28 percent shooting while hitting a scorching 46 percent of their own attempts from the floor in the first half.

Sam Houston has a short trip to Miami to face FIU on Saturday at 1 p.m.