HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Sam Houston Bearkats survived a furious second-half rally from UTEP to secure a 70-66 victory in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats, who led for over 38 minutes, saw a 13-point second-half lead evaporate before clamping down defensively and capitalizing at the free-throw line in the final minute to improve to 16-7 overall. UTEP, which had won two of its last three, fell to 8-15 despite a heroic scoring effort from its backcourt.

The most critical sequence of the contest unfolded in the game’s tense final 36 seconds. With Sam Houston clinging to a 66-64 lead, UTEP’s Elijah Jones fouled Kashie Natt on a defensive rebound attempt, sending the Bearkats guard to the line for two shots. Natt, a junior from Rayville, Louisiana, calmly sank both free throws to push the lead to four.

On the ensuing possession, UTEP’s Caleb Blackwell, who finished with a game-high 22 points, drove for a layup to cut the deficit back to 68-66 with just 3 seconds remaining. The Miners were then forced to foul immediately, sending Natt back to the charity stripe. He again delivered under pressure, hitting both attempts to seal the four-point victory. Natt’s four consecutive makes in the bonus were the final blows in a game where Sam Houston’s 21-of-27 performance from the line ultimately proved decisive, starkly contrasting UTEP’s 10-of-14 showing.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Sam Houston won despite shooting just 34.4% from the field, compared to UTEP’s 40%. The Bearkats compensated with superior work on the glass, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points, and by taking much better care of the basketball, committing only five turnovers while forcing 12 from the Miners. Those UTEP mistakes led to 17 points for Sam Houston.

UTEP’s offense ran primarily through Blackwell and forward Jamal West, who added 21 points. The duo combined for 43 of the Miners’ 66 points, with Blackwell adding three assists. Kaseem Watson contributed 13 points for UTEP. Their efforts nearly overcame a balanced Sam Houston attack led by Po’Boigh King, who tallied 17 points and five assists. Damon Nicholas added 14 points, while Justin Begg chipped in nine, all from beyond the arc.

Sam Houston established control early, using a 13-2 run midway through the first half to build a double-digit lead. The Bearkats led 36-33 at halftime and extended their advantage to 55-42 with 12:47 remaining after a trio of free throws from King. UTEP, however, responded with a 14-2 surge of its own, fueled by defensive pressure and transition baskets, to pull within 57-56. The teams traded blows over the next several minutes, setting the stage for the dramatic final minute.

The victory keeps Sam Houston in the upper tier of the Conference USA standings as it heads into a key road test at Louisiana Tech on Saturday. UTEP, which has shown recent signs of life with wins in three of its last six, will look to rebound at home against New Mexico State on Saturday. The announced attendance at Johnson Coliseum was 1,261.