Wednesday, March 11
Huntsville, Ala.
8:00 PM
vs
NM State
Photo by: Sarah Bautista
CUSA Championships Preview • vs NM State
3/10/2026 11:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CUSA Championships Preview • vs No. 10 NM State
Huntsville, Alabama • Propst Arena
No. 10 NM State (16-15) vs No. 2 Sam Houston (21-10)
Wednesday, March 11 • 8 PM CST
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: BSN
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_MBB
Series vs the Aggies 6-4
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Sam Houston will get a rematch with NM State in the quarter finals of the Conference USA Championships at Propst Arena on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m.
The second-seeded Bearkats and the 10th-seeded Aggies only played once in the regular season with NM State grabbing an 87-78 victory in Las Cruces. This is the first time the two teams have meet in the postseason dating back to their time in the WAC from 2021-23.
The game with the Aggies will be streamed on ESPN+ and can also be heard online on the Bearkat Sports Network with Carlos Zimmermann on the call.
WELL ACQUAINTED
For the first time in school history, the Bearkats will face a former head coach in the conference tournament. NM State head coach Jason Hooten led Sam Houston from 2010-2023, going 263-121, the most wins in school history, and winning the Southland Conference regular season championship in 2019. Current head coach Chris Mudge was Hooten's top assistant during each of Hooten's seasons in Huntsville and replaced Hooten in 2023-24 when Hooten was hired by NM State.
The Kats are 3-2 against Hooten and the Aggies since both teams joined CUSA in 2023-24. NM State won the only meeting between the two programs in the regular season 87-78 back in December in Las Cruces to open league play.
This is, however, not the first time a Sam Houston head coach has squared off in postseason play with his predecessor. Hooten was former Kat head coach Bob Marlin's assistant before Marlin went to Louisiana following the 2009-10 NCAA Tournament season. Hooten replaced Marlin and the two found themselves on the opposite side from one another in the second round of the 2015 CIT at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville. The Ragin' Cajuns won 71-70 on a buzzer-beating 3.
All-CONFERENCE KATS
Senior Kashie Natt was named CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Jacob Walker earned Sixth Man of the Year and head coach Chris Mudge was voted Co-Coach of the Year, league officials announced Monday. Senior Po'Boigh King was also named second team All-CUSA, Natt was selected to the third team and the all-defensive team and Walker was tabbed to the all-freshman team as well as honorable mention all-conference.
KATS IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
The Bearkats have made the conference postseason tournament in all 16 seasons (11 in Southland Conference, 2 in WAC, 3 CUSA) since head coach Chris Mudge has been on staff. This season marks the 23rd straight season SHSU has qualified for a conference tournament including 19 straight in the Southland Conference. Sam Houston won two conference tournament titles in the SLC (2003, 2010).
This is the fourth time Sam Houston has earned the second seed. The Bearkats finished second in the Southland Conference in 2006, 2007 and 2015. Sam lost to Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin in the championship game in 2006 and 2015, respectively, and was upset in the opening round by Lamar in 2007.
Huntsville, Alabama • Propst Arena
No. 10 NM State (16-15) vs No. 2 Sam Houston (21-10)
Wednesday, March 11 • 8 PM CST
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: BSN
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_MBB
Series vs the Aggies 6-4
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Sam Houston will get a rematch with NM State in the quarter finals of the Conference USA Championships at Propst Arena on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m.
The second-seeded Bearkats and the 10th-seeded Aggies only played once in the regular season with NM State grabbing an 87-78 victory in Las Cruces. This is the first time the two teams have meet in the postseason dating back to their time in the WAC from 2021-23.
The game with the Aggies will be streamed on ESPN+ and can also be heard online on the Bearkat Sports Network with Carlos Zimmermann on the call.
WELL ACQUAINTED
For the first time in school history, the Bearkats will face a former head coach in the conference tournament. NM State head coach Jason Hooten led Sam Houston from 2010-2023, going 263-121, the most wins in school history, and winning the Southland Conference regular season championship in 2019. Current head coach Chris Mudge was Hooten's top assistant during each of Hooten's seasons in Huntsville and replaced Hooten in 2023-24 when Hooten was hired by NM State.
The Kats are 3-2 against Hooten and the Aggies since both teams joined CUSA in 2023-24. NM State won the only meeting between the two programs in the regular season 87-78 back in December in Las Cruces to open league play.
This is, however, not the first time a Sam Houston head coach has squared off in postseason play with his predecessor. Hooten was former Kat head coach Bob Marlin's assistant before Marlin went to Louisiana following the 2009-10 NCAA Tournament season. Hooten replaced Marlin and the two found themselves on the opposite side from one another in the second round of the 2015 CIT at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville. The Ragin' Cajuns won 71-70 on a buzzer-beating 3.
All-CONFERENCE KATS
Senior Kashie Natt was named CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Jacob Walker earned Sixth Man of the Year and head coach Chris Mudge was voted Co-Coach of the Year, league officials announced Monday. Senior Po'Boigh King was also named second team All-CUSA, Natt was selected to the third team and the all-defensive team and Walker was tabbed to the all-freshman team as well as honorable mention all-conference.
KATS IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
The Bearkats have made the conference postseason tournament in all 16 seasons (11 in Southland Conference, 2 in WAC, 3 CUSA) since head coach Chris Mudge has been on staff. This season marks the 23rd straight season SHSU has qualified for a conference tournament including 19 straight in the Southland Conference. Sam Houston won two conference tournament titles in the SLC (2003, 2010).
This is the fourth time Sam Houston has earned the second seed. The Bearkats finished second in the Southland Conference in 2006, 2007 and 2015. Sam lost to Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin in the championship game in 2006 and 2015, respectively, and was upset in the opening round by Lamar in 2007.
Players Mentioned
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