Game 23 Preview vs UTEP

Game 23 • vs UTEP
Huntsville • Johnson Coliseum
UTEP (8-14, 4-7 CUSA) vs Sam Houston (15-7, 7-4 CUSA)
Wednesday, Feb. 4 • 6:30 PM CST

TV: ESPN+
RADIO: BSN

HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_MBB
Series vs the Miners: 3-11

HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston will put its six-game winning streak on the line when UTEP comes to Johnson Coliseum for a Conference USA tilt on Wednesday evening.

The Bearkats are coming off a pair of wins last week on the road at Missouri State and at home this past Saturday against Louisiana Tech to pull into a tie for second place with the Bears in league play at 7-4. Wednesday's matchup with the Miners will be streamed on ESPN+ and can also be heard on the radio on 90.5 FM and online on the Bearkat Sports Network with Carlos Zimmermann on the call.

WINNING IS CONTAGIOUS
The Kats began CUSA play 0-3 and have since won 7 of their last 8 contests, including a current six-game winning streak, featuring home wins against Delaware, Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech and three on the road at Jax State, FIU and Missouri State. The last time Sam won six straight in league play was during the 2023-24 championship season when the Bearkats won eight.

CONTROLLING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
The Bearkats have been one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country this season. They are ranked 12th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 13.95. This ranks third in the league mainly because Sam doesn't miss much. The Kats are second in the league in shooting percentage (47.1). Senior Veljko Ilic has been the driving force on the offensive glass. He ranks 50th individually in o-boards, averaging 3.09 per game which ranks 2nd in CUSA.

HOW THE KATS STACK UP IN NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS (As of Feb. 3)
Sam Houston likes to run and is ranked 31st in the country and first overall in CUSA in fastbreak points per game at 15.27 and is 46th in the nation in scoring at 83.8 PPG. Aside from being 36th in the country in bench points (see above information on the bench), the Bearkats are 12th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game at 13.95, 12th in total rebounds (41.59), 27th in rebound margin (7.2), and 46th in field goal percentage defense at 41.0.

KATS IN THE NCAA NET RANKINGS
Sam Houston is ranked No. 96 in the latest NCAA NET rankings (as of Jan. 30), which is the second in CUSA behind Liberty at 74. When the rankings were released, the Kats were 78th. The highest ranking Sam has had was 7th when the NCAA introduced NET rankings for the first time in December 2022.

Game 23 Preview vs UTEP

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Veljko Ilic

Footer