Wednesday, March 18
Albuquerque, N.M.
8:00 PM
at
New Mexico
Photo by: Paige Holland
NIT Preview vs New Mexico
3/17/2026 11:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NIT Preview vs New Mexico
Albuquerque, N.M. • The Pit
No. 1 New Mexico (23-10) vs Sam Houston (22-11)
Wednesday, March 18 • 8 PM CST
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: BSN
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_MBB
Series vs the Lobos 0-2
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sam Houston is back in the NIT and will face No. 1 New Mexico in the first round at The Pit on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m.
This is the first time the two teams have meet on the court in more than 25 years. The Lobos topped the Bearkats 71-61 at home in 1999. The game with New Mexico will be streamed on ESPN+ and can also be heard online on the Bearkat Sports Network with Carlos Zimmermann on the call.
KATS IN THE POSTSEASON
Sam Houston is making its second NIT appearance in the past four seasons and third overall. The Bearkats earned an automatic bid as the 2018-19 Southland Conference regular season champions, and the 2022-23 team which posted a school record 26 wins earned an at-large berth that came with an opening round win over Santa Clara.
In 2019, Sam lost to TCU in the opening round 82-69 in Fort Worth. The Kats beat Santa Clara on the road 58-56 in 2023 before losing 75-55 to eventual champion North Texas in Denton.
Sam Houston finished second in Conference USA this season, going 21-10 in the regular season and 13-7 in league play. The Kats went 1-1 in the conference tournament this past week with a 79-72 victory over NM State in the quarterfinals before being eliminated in the semifinals to eventual champion Kennesaw State.
The program is 5-7 all-time in postseason action, going 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament, 1-2 in the NIT and 4-4 in the CIT.
Albuquerque, N.M. • The Pit
No. 1 New Mexico (23-10) vs Sam Houston (22-11)
Wednesday, March 18 • 8 PM CST
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: BSN
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_MBB
Series vs the Lobos 0-2
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sam Houston is back in the NIT and will face No. 1 New Mexico in the first round at The Pit on Wednesday evening at 8 p.m.
This is the first time the two teams have meet on the court in more than 25 years. The Lobos topped the Bearkats 71-61 at home in 1999. The game with New Mexico will be streamed on ESPN+ and can also be heard online on the Bearkat Sports Network with Carlos Zimmermann on the call.
KATS IN THE POSTSEASON
Sam Houston is making its second NIT appearance in the past four seasons and third overall. The Bearkats earned an automatic bid as the 2018-19 Southland Conference regular season champions, and the 2022-23 team which posted a school record 26 wins earned an at-large berth that came with an opening round win over Santa Clara.
In 2019, Sam lost to TCU in the opening round 82-69 in Fort Worth. The Kats beat Santa Clara on the road 58-56 in 2023 before losing 75-55 to eventual champion North Texas in Denton.
Sam Houston finished second in Conference USA this season, going 21-10 in the regular season and 13-7 in league play. The Kats went 1-1 in the conference tournament this past week with a 79-72 victory over NM State in the quarterfinals before being eliminated in the semifinals to eventual champion Kennesaw State.
The program is 5-7 all-time in postseason action, going 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament, 1-2 in the NIT and 4-4 in the CIT.
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