Preview: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Sam Houston Bearkats

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — A pivotal Conference USA men’s basketball matchup is set for Saturday at Johnson Coliseum as the surging Sam Houston Bearkats host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

Sam Houston (14-7 overall) enters with momentum, having won five of its last six games, including an 80-71 road victory at Missouri State on Wednesday. The Bearkats have found success with balanced scoring and stout defense, holding opponents to an average of 64.2 points during their current three-game win streak. Guard Jacob Walker has been a consistent contributor, averaging 10.8 points over the last nine games and scoring 16 in the win over Missouri State.

Louisiana Tech (12-8) arrives after a 69-59 road win at UTEP, snapping a two-game skid. The Bulldogs have been reliant on the high-scoring performances of guard DJ Dudley, who is averaging 19.6 points over his last seven contests. He dropped 20 points in the win over UTEP and has scored 17 or more in six of those games. However, Louisiana Tech has struggled with consistency, particularly on the road in conference play, where they are 1-3.

This game features a contrast in recent form. Sam Houston’s collective approach, with key minutes from players like Veljko Ilic and Kashie Natt, will test a Louisiana Tech squad that leans heavily on Dudley’s offensive creation. The Bulldogs will need supplemental scoring, potentially from AJ Bates, who dished out seven assists against UTEP, to keep pace.

The Bearkats won the teams’ first meeting last season. This rematch carries weight in the conference standings, with Sam Houston looking to solidify its position and Louisiana Tech aiming to climb back toward the top tier.

The game will tip off at 3:30 p.m. CST Saturday. The teams will meet again in Ruston the following Saturday, Feb. 7.