Kats squash rally to drop Jax State

Saturday, February 21

Huntsville

2:30 PM

19-8,11-5CUSA

Jax State

13-14,8-8CUSA

Jacksonville St.

Sam Houston

Jacob Walker dribbles against Middle Tennessee

Kats squash rally to drop Jax State

2/21/2026 7:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston keeps finding different ways to win, and Saturday was another nail-biter.

The Bearkats avoided squandering a 17-point lead in the second half to swat away Jax State 82-79 at Johnson Coliseum to extend their Conference USA winning streak to three. Po'Boigh King led Sam Houston (19-8, 11-5 CUSA) with 19 points, and Jacob Walker chipped in 17, including a key three-point play late in the second half that sealed it.

Kashie Natt posted his team-leading fifth double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Jacobe Coleman added nine points, Veljko Ilic finished with seven and Matt Dann pitched in six points as the Bearkats shot a blistering 49 percent from the floor.

Sam Houston went up 54-37 with 13:33 left in the game when Coleman hit a jumper and Walker made a pair of free throws. The Gamecocks (13-14, 8-8) didn't roll over and used a 23-6 to tie it 60 five minutes later.

Ilic snapped the tie with a free throw, and Natt took advantage of an offense rebound by Damon Nicholas Jr., who scored nine points and grabbed six boards, to a second-chance basket and a three-point lead.

The Bearkats never relinquished the lead after that, going up five when Walker was fouled making a layup and sank the charity shot to make it 76-71 with 43 seconds left in the contest. He and Natt went 6 for 6 from the free throw line the rest of the way to hand Jax State its fourth straight loss.

Sam Houston has two final home games next week beginning with FIU on Thursday at 8 p.m.