Sam Houston Edges Idaho State in Close Contest
Wednesday, November 26, 2025, 6:30 PM ET · Idaho Central Arena
Sam Houston Bearkats 84, Idaho State Bengals 81, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Sam Houston Bearkats vs Idaho State Bengals?
Sam Houston Bearkats beat Idaho State Bengals 84-81 at Idaho Central Arena on November 26, 2025.
In a thrilling matchup at the Idaho Central Arena, the Sam Houston Bearkats narrowly defeated the Idaho State Bengals with a final score of 84-81. This contest was notable not only for its close scoreline but also for the implications it had on both teams' early-season momentum. The Bearkats improved their record to 5-2, while the Bengals fell to 3-5.
Both teams entered the game with a mixed bag of recent performances. The Idaho State Bengals had a record of 5-5 over their last ten games, with a current streak of one win. They averaged 71.3 points scored while allowing 69.1 points per game. In their last five outings, Idaho State managed to score an average of 69.2 points while allowing 67.8. Their recent form included a significant home victory against the Justice Lions, where they won decisively with a score of 89-51. However, they also faced tough losses against teams like the Santa Clara Broncos and the Seattle U Redhawks.
On the other hand, the Sam Houston Bearkats were on a two-game winning streak, bringing their record to 5-5 in their last ten games. They showcased a more potent offense, averaging 80.0 points scored and allowing 76.5 points per game. Their last five games saw them scoring an impressive average of 86.8 points, including a dominant 105-54 victory over the Schreiner Mountaineers. However, they struggled on the road, holding a 0-4 record in away games compared to a strong 5-1 record at home.
The matchup also featured some intriguing statistical contrasts between home and away performances. Idaho State had a home record of 2-2, while Sam Houston struggled in away games with a 0-4 record. This dynamic added an extra layer of intrigue to the contest, as the Bengals looked to leverage their home court advantage.
In terms of previous meetings, the block did not provide specific historical data, but the current form of both teams suggested a competitive game. The injury picture was also not detailed in the block, leaving fans to speculate on the impact of player availability on the game.
The betting market reflected the closely matched nature of the contest, with Idaho State having a home win probability of 0.555, indicating a slight edge for the Bengals according to the odds provided by the market. However, as the game unfolded, it was clear that the Bearkats were prepared to challenge that expectation.
Conditions in the arena were typical for a late November game, with no specific weather conditions reported, allowing both teams to focus solely on their performance. As the game progressed, viewers were treated to a back-and-forth battle that showcased the skills of both squads.
Key moments in the second half included critical free throws made by Jamison Guerra, who contributed significantly to the Bearkats' scoring late in the game. Additionally, Damon Nicholas Jr. hit a pivotal three-point jumper that shifted the momentum in favor of Sam Houston. The final moments saw the Bearkats maintain their lead with free throws from Justin Begg, sealing their victory.
Overall, the game was a testament to the competitive spirit of both teams, with Sam Houston ultimately coming out on top in a closely contested affair.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | — | 141.5 o -115 / u -105 | Sam Houston Bearkats — · Idaho State Bengals — |
Leaders
- PointsMartin Kheil18Idaho State Bengals
- AssistsJamison Guerra6Idaho State Bengals
- ReboundsCaleb Van De Griend7Idaho State Bengals
- PointsKashie Natt26Sam Houston Bearkats
- AssistsJustin Begg5Sam Houston Bearkats
- ReboundsVeljko Ilic12Sam Houston Bearkats
Recent form
Idaho State Bengals
Last 10: 5-5Streak W171.3 scored · 69.1 allowed per game2-2 at home
- W89-51vs Justice LionsNov 21
- L55-64at Santa Clara BroncosNov 19
- L74-83at Seattle U RedhawksNov 16
- L57-73at San Diego State AztecsNov 9
- W71-68at San Diego TorerosNov 8
- W81-71vs Park University Gilbert BuccaneersNov 5
- L60-80vs Montana State BobcatsMar 10
- L79-82vs Northern Arizona LumberjacksMar 4
- W78-54at Eastern Washington EaglesMar 1
- W69-65at Idaho VandalsFeb 28
Sam Houston Bearkats
Last 10: 5-5Streak W280 scored · 76.5 allowed per game0-4 away
- W105-54vs Schreiner MountaineersNov 22
- W78-70vs Wyoming CowboysNov 20
- L79-85at Utah UtesNov 16
- L77-98at Texas Tech Red RaidersNov 8
- W95-59vs LeTourneau Yellow JacketsNov 4
- L65-79at UTEP MinersMar 11
- W76-69vs New Mexico State AggiesMar 8
- W89-87vs UTEP MinersMar 7
- L66-90vs Louisiana Tech BulldogsMar 1
- L70-74at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersFeb 22
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 26-8 | - | 17-3 |
| Sam Houston | 22-12 | 4 | 13-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 20-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Western Kentucky | 18-14 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Middle Tennessee | 17-15 | 6 | 11-9 |
| Kennesaw State | 21-14 | 7 | 10-10 |
| Jacksonville State | 15-17 | 7 | 10-10 |
| New Mexico State | 16-16 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Missouri State | 16-18 | 9 | 8-12 |
| Florida International | 15-17 | 9 | 8-12 |
| UTEP | 11-20 | 8 | 7-13 |
| Delaware | 10-21 | 11 | 6-14 |
| Portland State | 20-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Montana State | 18-14 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Eastern Washington | 14-19 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Northern Colorado | 20-12 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Montana | 18-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Weber State | 16-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Idaho | 21-15 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Sacramento State | 10-21 | 8 | 6-12 |
| Idaho State | 13-20 | 8 | 5-13 |
| Northern Arizona | 10-22 | 9 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Sam Houston Bearkats | Idaho State Bengals |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-60 | 21-46 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 8-25 | 7-24 |
| Three-point % | 32 | 29 |
| Free throws | 22-28 | 32-41 |
| Free throw % | 79 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 23 |
| Offensive rebounds | 15 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 14 |
| Assists | 10 | 11 |
| Steals | 13 | 6 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 17 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 2 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 26 |
| Fouls | 30 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 4 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half52-53Justin Begg made Layup. Assisted by Damon Nicholas Jr..
- 2nd Half52-56Martin Kheil made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Louis Bond.
- 2nd Half55-56Justin Begg made Three Point Jumper.
- 2nd Half55-57Louis Bond made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half55-58Louis Bond made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half56-58Justin Begg made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half57-58Justin Begg made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half60-58Po'Boigh King made Three Point Jumper.
- 2nd Half60-59Lachlan Brewer made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half62-59Po'Boigh King made Jumper.
- 2nd Half62-60Jamison Guerra made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half62-61Jamison Guerra made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half63-61Kashie Natt made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half63-62Caleb Van De Griend made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half63-63Caleb Van De Griend made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half64-63Kashie Natt made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half65-63Kashie Natt made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half67-63Damon Nicholas Jr. made Layup.
- 2nd Half67-65Caleb Van De Griend made Layup.
- 2nd Half69-65Kashie Natt made Jumper.
- 2nd Half69-67Caleb Van De Griend made Dunk. Assisted by Martin Kheil.
- 2nd Half69-69Caleb Van De Griend made Dunk.
- 2nd Half69-70Caleb Van De Griend made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half71-70Jacobe Coleman made Layup.
- 2nd Half71-72Lachlan Brewer made Layup. Assisted by Blake Daberkow.
- 2nd Half73-72Kashie Natt made Layup.
- 2nd Half73-73Jamison Guerra made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half73-74Jamison Guerra made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half75-74Kashie Natt made Layup.
- 2nd Half75-75Connor Hollenbeck made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half75-76Cheikh Sow made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half77-76Veljko Ilic made Jumper.
- 2nd Half77-77Jamison Guerra made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half77-78Jamison Guerra made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half80-78Damon Nicholas Jr. made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Justin Begg.
- 2nd Half81-78Po'Boigh King made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half82-78Po'Boigh King made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half82-81Connor Hollenbeck made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Jamison Guerra.
- 2nd Half83-81Justin Begg made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half84-81Justin Begg made Free Throw.
Win probability
Above the line favours Idaho State Bengals, below favours Sam Houston Bearkats.
Venue
- Idaho Central ArenaBoise, ID
- OfficialsRyan Holmes, Frank Harvey, Kirk Smith
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