Clash at Bernard Johnson Coliseum: Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
As the Sam Houston State Bearkats prepare to host the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at Bernard Johnson Coliseum, fans can anticipate an exciting matchup. The Bearkats have been showing a strong performance trend in their recent games, which could be a significant factor in the upcoming game.
In their last encounter against the Lumberjacks, the Bearkats secured a victory with 76 points to 71. Their offensive strategy was effective, shooting an impressive 52 percent from the field and converting 38 percent of their three-point attempts. However, they will need to address their free-throw performance as they only made 59 percent of those shots.
The previous game also showcased their ability to control rebounds with a total of 34 rebounds—18 defensive and 11 offensive—which contributed to securing second-chance points that were crucial for their win. Despite this strength on the boards, turnovers were an issue; they had nearly as many turnovers (18) as assists (12), indicating room for improvement in ball handling and passing accuracy.
Another aspect that stands out is their defense; they managed five blocks and five steals against Stephen F. Austin, which helped them maintain pressure on their opponents throughout the game.
Looking back further into another recent game against Utah Tech Trailblazers, we saw another strong performance by SHSU with a decisive win scoring 78 points while holding Utah Tech to just 53 points. Their field goal percentage was even higher at around 54 percent and maintained consistency from beyond the arc with approximately 32 percent three-point shooting.
The team's resilience is evident in these performances but maintaining consistency will be key when facing UTRGV Vaqueros at home. The venue itself may provide an advantage; Bernard Johnson Coliseum has been known for its energetic atmosphere that often boosts home team morale—a factor that should not be underestimated.
Fans can catch this anticipated face-off on January 21st at Bernard Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville or watch it live on ESPN+ starting at 22:30 UTC (5:30 PM Central Time).