Kats get revenge against MTSU

Wednesday, February 18

Huntsville

6:30 PM

18-8,10-5CUSA

Middle Tennessee

12-14,6-9CUSA

Middle Tennessee

Sam Houston

Photo by: Paige Holland

Kats get revenge against MTSU

2/18/2026 8:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE — The Bearkats like to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.

Once again, Sam Houston overcame an offensive blackout for a stretch in the second half to bounce Middle Tennessee 78-70 on Wednesday evening at Johnson Coliseum. The victory avenged a one-point loss to the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in January and kept the Bearkats (18-8, 10-5 in CUSA) in sole possession of second place in the league.

Jacob Walker led Sam Houston with 20 points, and Veljko Ilic just missed his fifth double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Po'Boigh King added 12 points, and Kashie Natt had nine points and six boards.

The Bearkats were red hot shooting in the first half, shooting 54 percent from the floor while also hitting 6 of 12 3-point attempts. The second half was a little rockier to start.

MTSU (12-14, 6-9) went on a run to open the second period to cut Sam Houston's lead from 44-32 down to six points. The Bearkats responded and King was fouled making a basket then converted the free throw to push it back to 51-40.

The Blue Raiders were able to get back to within five just minutes later. Ilic made a free throw, and Damon Nicholas Jr. made a basket to finally end SHSU's scoring drought. The Kats were 1 for 8 from the field during that stretch, however, as MTSU was able to trim the advantage to 58-57.

Jacobe Coleman, who chipped in eight points and eight got a shot to fall to spark a 6-0 run by Sam Houston as Ilic scored back-to-back baskets tot rebounds, pushed the lead back to seven. Natt put the finishing touches on the win with a one-handed, alley-oop dunk to make it 76-63 in the final minutes.

Sam Houston will look to stretch its current winning streak to three when Jax State comes to town for a 2:30 p.m. tip on Saturday.