Kats drop opener at No. 20 Alabama

Tuesday, November 3

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6:30 PM

0-1,0-0CUSA

Alabama

1-0,0-0SEC

Team	1	2	F
Sam Houston	29	45	74
Alabama	40	56	96

11/3/2026 8:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Sam Houston was unable to slow a second-half surge by No. 20 Alabama in a 96-74 loss in the season opener at Coleman Coliseum on Tuesday evening.

The Bearkats showed some fight as they began the season on the road for the third time in the past four years, but two big runs by the Crimson Tide made the difference.

Alabama used a 16-2 run to begin the second half and build on an 11-point halftime lead. Zion Pipkin hit a 3-pointer with 15:25 remaining to get the Bearkats within 22 points at 56-34, but Sam Houston never got closer the rest of the way despite trailing by as many as 32.

Jacobe Coleman led the Kats with 16 points on 4-for-10 shooting from 3-point range. Justin Begg finished with 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Pipkin added 11 points.

Aiden McDowell scored 10 points, and Enel St. Bernard pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go along with five points.

The Bearkats shot just 30 percent in the first half, allowing the Tide to build a 20-12 lead with just over eight minutes remaining before the break. Freshman Mahliq Guiseppi-Kitson, who finished with six points, knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the lead to five.

Alabama answered with a 14-6 run to go up by as many as 16. Sam Houston didn't let the game get away, as Coleman scored five unanswered points to trim the deficit to 40-29 at halftime.

The Kats shot better in the second half, connecting on 45 percent of their attempts. Sam Houston allowed the Tide to shoot 48 percent from the field for the game, however.

The Bearkats will host Howard Payne on Saturday for their home opener at Johnson Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.