Sam Houston State Bearkats Dominate New Mexico State Aggies at Pan American Center
The Sam Houston State Bearkats emerged victorious against the New Mexico State Aggies with a commanding score of 79-58. The Bearkats' season record now stands at an impressive 20-3, while the Aggies fall to a 15-8 mark.
In an assertive display of basketball, the Sam Houston Bearkats took control early on and never looked back. The team's offensive execution was on point as they shot an efficient 50 percent from the field and an outstanding 57 percent from beyond the arc. Their defense was equally formidable, limiting their opponents to a mere 39 percent shooting performance.
The Bearkats showcased their scoring depth with contributions across the board. They were particularly effective in transition, notching up 21 fast break points which kept the Aggies on their heels throughout the contest. Moreover, Sam Houston capitalized on turnovers by scoring 18 points off them.
On top of that, rebounding was a key factor in this matchup as Sam Houston outrebounded New Mexico State by a significant margin—37 to 21 rebounds—with both teams grabbing double-digit offensive boards (11 for SHSU and seven for NMSU). This allowed for more second-chance opportunities resulting in 18 second-chance points for SHSU compared to just ten by NMSU.
Ball distribution was another area where the Bearkats excelled; they racked up an impressive total of 17 assists which speaks volumes about their team-oriented approach. Despite committing more personal fouls than their opponents (18 compared to NMSU's 15), it did little to hinder their momentum.
The free throw line also played a pivotal role in this game as Sam Houston made good use of these opportunities by converting at a rate of approximately three out of four attempts (75 percent). In contrast, New Mexico State struggled significantly from the charity stripe with only around six out of ten free throws finding success (58 percent).
As we look ahead, fans can catch the next action-packed game featuring Sam Houston State Bearkats as they face off against UTEP Miners at Don Haskins Center located in El Paso, Texas. Scheduled for February 24th at eight o'clock PM Central Time Zone fans can tune into ESPN+ over internet broadcast networks to follow all live proceedings from this anticipated encounter.