Sam Houston Looks to Secure First Conference Win Against Delaware at home
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The Sam Houston Bearkats aim to break a three-game conference USA losing streak as they host the Delaware Blue Hens in their league home opener on Thursday, January 8th, at 6:30 p.m. CST. This marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
HUNTSVILLE, TX – After a challenging stretch of road games, Sam Houston returns to the familiar surroundings of Johnson Coliseum, seeking its first victory in Conference USA play. The bearkats (8-6 overall) will welcome Delaware (5-9, 1-2 CUSA) for a 6:30 p.m. CST tipoff, broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can also tune in via the bearkat Sports Network, with Carlos Zimmermann providing play-by-play commentary.
The Kats have faced a tough transition into CUSA competition, dropping their first three conference contests at NM State, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee State. A key focus for the team will be capitalizing on home-court advantage as they navigate the remainder of the conference schedule.
Freshmen Fueling the bearkats’ Offense
Jacob Walker and Jacoby Coleman are quickly establishing themselves as key contributors for Sam Houston. The dynamic freshman duo currently leads all first-year players in CUSA scoring, combining for an impressive 16.5 points per game. walker is averaging 8.3 points, slightly ahead of Coleman’s 8.2. Their immediate impact provides a promising outlook for the future of the program.
Natt’s Defensive Prowess Shines
Kashie Natt is making a name for himself as a disruptive force on the defensive end. Currently tied for 26th nationally in steals per game with 2.3, he also leads all CUSA players in that category. Natt’s ability to generate turnovers is crucial to the Bearkats’ defensive strategy. The conference USA single-season record for steals is 3.39, set by Oliver Lafayette of Houston during the 2005-06 season – a benchmark Natt will undoubtedly be aiming to challenge.
Ilic Dominates Inside for Sam Houston
Veljko Ilic has emerged as a consistent presence in the paint for Sam Houston. the 6-foot-10 transfer recently recorded back-to-back double-doubles against Western kentucky and Middle Tennessee State, scoring 16 points in each game while grabbing 12 and 13 rebounds, respectively. ilic is now averaging 10.1 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Why: Sam Houston sought their first Conference USA win after a arduous start to league play. Who: The Sam Houston Bearkats (8-6) hosted the Delaware Blue Hens (5-9). What: The Bearkats and Blue Hens met for the first time in program history. How did it end?: Sam Houston defeated Delaware 85-74. Jacob Walker led all scorers with 21 points, while Veljko Ilic added a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Kashie Natt contributed 16 points and 5 steals. The Bearkats used a strong second-half performance,outscoring the Blue Hens 45-35,to secure the victory and improve to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in CUSA play. Delaware fell to 5-10 and 1-3 in conference action.
