The Sam Houston Bearkats will play against the New Mexico Lobos in the NIT Tournament. The game is set for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET. It will take place at The Pit in Albuquerque, NM, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Bearkats finished their regular season with a 22-11 overall record. In Conference USA, they had a 14-8 record. Recently, they lost to Kennesaw State by 6 points and to Liberty by 7 points, but they won against New Mexico State by 8 points.
The Lobos ended their regular season with a 23-10 overall record. In the Mountain West Conference, they also had a 14-8 record. Their recent games include a 2-point loss to San Diego State and a 4-point loss to Utah State. They did secure a 16-point win over San Jose State.
New Mexico Preview
The New Mexico Lobos are part of the Mountain West Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they played in the South Region. They won against Marquette with a score of 75-66. However, they lost to Michigan State in the second round, 63-71.
In the 2026 regular season, the Lobos had an overall record of 23-10. Their conference record was 14-8. They had some notable games, including a close loss to San Diego State, 62-64. They also secured a strong win against San Jose State, 93-77.
The Lobos have some standout players. Deyton Albury scored 20 points in a recent game against San Diego State. Tomislav Buljan had a great performance against San Jose State with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Jake Hall also impressed with 32 points in the game against Utah State.
For the 2026 season, the Lobos averaged 80.5 points per game. They had a field goal percentage of 46.0. Their defense recorded 7.9 steals per game. The team had a straight-up record of 26-7 in the 2025 season, showing strong performance overall.
Sam Houston Preview
The Sam Houston Bearkats play in Conference USA. During the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 22-11. In conference play, they finished with a record of 14-8. This performance shows they were competitive in their conference.
In recent games, the Bearkats had mixed results. On March 13, 2026, they lost to Kennesaw State Owls by a score of 79-73. Kashie Natt had 13 points and 13 rebounds in that game. Veljko Ilic and Jacob Walker each scored 17 points.
Earlier, on March 11, 2026, the Bearkats won against New Mexico State Aggies, 69-61. Kashie Natt was again a key player with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Veljko Ilic and Jacobe Coleman also contributed with double-digit points.
For the season, the Bearkats averaged 82.2 points per game, ranking 58th. They were strong in rebounding, with 40.7 rebounds per game, ranking 21st. However, their free throw percentage was lower at 72.2%, placing them 258th. On defense, they averaged 7.2 steals per game.
Statistical Breakdown for New Mexico vs Sam Houston
The game between the New Mexico Lobos and the Sam Houston Bearkats will likely be influenced by several key stats. The Bearkats have a strong offense, scoring 82.2 points per game, and are ranked 21st in rebounds per game. The Lobos, on the other hand, score 80.5 points per game and have a slightly better field goal percentage. Both teams have similar defensive stats, with the Lobos having a slight edge in steals per game. The performance of standout players like Deyton Albury and Tomislav Buljan for the Lobos, and Kashie Natt and Veljko Ilic for the Bearkats, could also play a significant role.
- Sam Houston Bearkats Points Per Game: 82.2
- New Mexico Lobos Points Per Game: 80.5
- Sam Houston Bearkats Rebounds Per Game: 40.7
- New Mexico Lobos Rebounds Per Game: 36.5
- Sam Houston Bearkats Field Goal Percentage: 46.4%
- New Mexico Lobos Field Goal Percentage: 46.0%
- Sam Houston Bearkats Steals Per Game: 7.2
- New Mexico Lobos Steals Per Game: 7.9
Betting Insights
The upcoming game between the Sam Houston Bearkats and the New Mexico Lobos offers some interesting betting angles. The Bearkats have struggled against the spread, while the Lobos have been more consistent straight up. Here are the top betting trends to consider for this game:
- The Bearkats are 9-18-5 ATS in all games, showing a weak performance against the spread.
- The Lobos have a strong SU record of 26-7, indicating they often win their games.
- The Bearkats have a poor SU record as underdogs, going 1-13.
- The Lobos are 22-4 SU as favorites, showing they often win when expected to.
- The Bearkats have a 58.6% success rate on the Over in all games, suggesting higher scoring games.
Free Betting Prediction for New Mexico vs Sam Houston
The New Mexico Lobos have shown strong performance in recent seasons. They have a solid record when playing as favorites. With standout players like Deyton Albury and Tomislav Buljan, they have the talent to secure a win. Their ability to score and defend makes them a tough opponent.
The Sam Houston Bearkats have struggled against the spread. They have a poor record as underdogs. Despite their strong scoring and rebounding, they might find it hard to overcome the Lobos. Players like Kashie Natt and Veljko Ilic will need to perform well for a chance to win.
Considering the stats and betting trends, the Lobos are likely to win. Their strong straight-up record as favorites gives them an edge. The Bearkats’ struggles as underdogs make it tough for them to pull off an upset. The Lobos’ consistent play should lead them to victory.
- Our Free Prediction: New Mexico -11.5
