Kats clutch at FT line in win over Pepperdine

Wednesday, November 11

Huntsville

6:30 PM

2-1,0-0CUSA

Pepperdine

2-2,0-0WCC

Team	1	2	F
Pepperdine	35	42	77
Sam Houston	41	44	85

Box Score (PDF)

Aidan McDowell drives to the basket against Pepperdine

Photo by: Danny Salas

11/11/2026 9:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston made the key plays count down the stretch to pull away for an 85-77 victory over Pepperdine on Wednesday evening at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats (2-1) were nails at the free throw line to hold off a late charge by the Wave (2-2) in the first meeting between the two programs. Sam Houston made 28 free throws in the second half, including 10 consecutive attempts in the final minutes to close out the victory.

Jacobe Coleman and Aidan McDowell led the Kats with 20 points apiece. Coleman was a perfect 9 for 9 at the line, while McDowell finished 8 for 11. Yoda Oke added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Justin Begg chipped in 13 points and five rebounds.

Sam Houston led by as many as 15 in the second half before Pepperdine came roaring back to make it a game at 57-52. Enel St. Bernard, who finished with seven points and 10 rebounds, then brought the crowd to its feet when he slammed home an alley-oop off a pass from Zion Pipkin following a steal by Begg.

Once again, the Wave battled back. A 6-0 run got Pepperdine within three with under six minutes to play. The teams traded baskets before the Kats went back to what worked best on Wednesday evening: attacking the basket.

Oke hit three free throws, and Coleman made all three of his attempts after being fouled on a 3-pointer to put the finishing touches on the victory. Sam Houston finished an impressive 34 for 38 at the free throw line.

The contest was slow going early as both teams tried to establish an offensive rhythm. Sam Houston struggled from the field and eventually fell behind by five at 32-27 as the Wave grabbed their biggest lead of the game with 2:34 left in the first half.

The Kats started to heat up after that.

McDowell hit a 3-pointer from the left side to cut the deficit to three. Sam Houston got a stop, and Oke dropped in a floater in the lane to tie the game.

That sparked a 14-3 run, capped by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by McDowell just before halftime to send the Bearkats into the break with a 41-35 lead.

Sam Houston picked up where it left off in the first half as McDowell scored four unanswered points and Begg added six to push the advantage to 51-36.

Pepperdine responded with a 7-0 run before Coleman ended it with a turnaround jumper. Pipkin added a pair of free throws to push the lead back to 55-45 midway through the second half.

Sam Houston hits the road to take on its second top-25 opponent of the season when it faces No. 3 Illinois on Friday.