- Matchup: Sam Houston Bearkats vs New Mexico Lobos
- Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Venue: The Pit, Albuquerque, NM
- Broadcast: ESPN+
- Betting Odds: Sam Houston Bearkats (+11)
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This Wednesday, the New Mexico Lobos (23-10) will host the Sam Houston Bearkats (22-11) at The Pit in the first round of the NIT. The Bearkats are entering this game as 11-point underdogs, with an over/under set at 165.
The last game for Sam Houston featured a tough loss against Kennesaw State, finishing 79-73. They committed 20 personal fouls while Kennesaw State had 16. The Bearkats successfully made 9 of 22 shots from beyond the arc. Kennesaw State converted 20 of 27 free throw attempts for a 74.1% rate. They managed to collect 30 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds, but did not record any blocks. Kennesaw State also recorded 11 assists and 8 steals. Defensively, Sam Houston allowed 48.1% shooting from their opponents, who hit 25 of 52 attempts. Sam Houston dished out 14 assists, forced 16 turnovers, and achieved 13 steals. The Bearkats grabbed a total of 32 rebounds, 14 on the offensive end, and made 13 out of 20 free throw attempts, finishing with a 65.0% shooting rate from the line. Sam Houston’s overall shooting percentage was 43.5% (27 of 62), including 6 of 25 from three-point range.
Jacobe Coleman had a noteworthy performance in the last game, scoring 18 points on 7 of 19 shooting, playing the full 40 minutes, and grabbing 2 rebounds. He shot 36.8% from the floor and recorded no assists.
Currently, Sam Houston stands at 22-11 this season. They average 11.8 turnovers and commit 17.5 fouls per game. As a team, they secure an average of 40.7 rebounds and have generated 506 assists this season, ranking 83rd nationally. The Bearkats excel in three-point shooting, connecting on 36.7% of their attempts (277 of 754), and are shooting 72.2% from the free throw line. They average 82.2 points per game, placing them 49th in Division 1, with an overall field goal percentage of 46.4%.
Defensively, the Bearkats force 11.6 turnovers per game and commit 17.2 fouls. They permit opponents to shoot 31.2% from three-point range and rank 194th in Division 1 for points allowed per game (74.2). Their defense allows 42.4% shooting from the floor (846 of 1,996) and yields 33.9 rebounds per game. They rank 159th in Division 1 for assists allowed, giving up 425 this season.
The New Mexico Lobos faced a narrow defeat against San Diego State, losing 64-62. In that game, they allowed 23 rebounds total (8 offensive) to San Diego State. The Lobos struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 5 of 21 attempts (23.8%). They made 13 of 21 free throws, which is a conversion rate of 61.9%. San Diego State shot 41.1% overall, capitalizing on 23 of 56 attempts while New Mexico managed 20 of 61, resulting in a shooting percentage of 32.8%. From the three-point line, New Mexico connected on 7 of 21 (33.3%) and sank 15 free throws for a 53.6% rate. San Diego State committed 16 fouls, leading to 28 free throw attempts for the Lobos. The Lobos registered 10 turnovers and secured 33 total rebounds, including 22 on the defensive end and 11 offensively.
Deyton Albury was a key performer for the Lobos, scoring 20 points in 26 minutes and adding 1 assist. He shot an impressive 7 of 10 (70.0%) from the field and contributed 3 rebounds.
The New Mexico Lobos have a current record of 23-10. Offensively, they are shooting 46.0%, ranking 127th in the nation. The team has achieved a total of 2,658 points this season (averaging 80.5 per game) and collects 36.5 rebounds per game. They facilitate 14.9 assists per game (114th nationally) and average 10.7 turnovers. The Lobos commit 17.7 fouls per game and convert 72.7% of their free throws.
The Lobos’ defense is ranked 97th in points allowed per game, surrendering 70.8. They force 13.6 turnovers and allow a shooting percentage of 42.0% from the floor (58th in the nation). New Mexico permits 30.0% shooting from three-point range (270 of 901) and opponents hit 73.3% of their free throws. They give up 13.1 assists and 34.1 rebounds per game, which ranks them 155th and 158th in those categories.
Which team will prevail in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Take Sam Houston (+11)
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