Sam Houston Bearkats Edge Kennesaw State Owls 83-79
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 5:00 PM ET · VyStar Arena
Sam Houston Bearkats 83, Kennesaw State Owls 79, 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 Kennesaw State Owls?
Sam Houston Bearkats beat Kennesaw State Owls 83-79 at VyStar Arena on February 14, 2026.
Who was favored in Sam Houston Bearkats vs Kennesaw State Owls?
Kennesaw State Owls were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -130 (about 57% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Sam Houston Bearkats defeated the Kennesaw State Owls 83-79 at VyStar Arena. This victory adds to Sam Houston's strong season, bringing their record to 18-8, while Kennesaw State falls to 14-12. The game showcased the competitive nature of both teams, with Sam Houston extending their lead in their head-to-head record against Kennesaw State to 3-1 over the last four meetings.
Kennesaw State entered the game struggling with a recent form of 6-4 over their last ten games, including a two-game losing streak. They averaged 80.4 points scored per game while allowing 77.7 points. Their last five games resulted in a record of 2-3, with an average of 73.8 points scored and 74.2 points allowed. Notably, Kennesaw State had a strong home record of 5-1 in their last six home games, but they were unable to capitalize on this advantage against the Bearkats.
On the other hand, Sam Houston was in better form, boasting an 8-2 record in their last ten games, although they were coming off a loss against Louisiana Tech. They averaged 77.6 points scored and allowed 70.3 points during this stretch. Their recent performance included a 4-1 record in their last five games, with an average of 76.8 points scored and 69.8 points allowed. The Bearkats also had a solid away record of 3-1 in their last four away games, which contributed to their confidence heading into this matchup.
The two teams had met earlier in the season on January 22, 2026, where Sam Houston emerged victorious with a score of 93-87. This latest encounter continued the trend of high-scoring games between the two, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability, but it is common for teams to deal with various injuries as the season progresses, which can impact performance.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored Kennesaw State slightly, with a spread of -1.5 points and a total set at 162.5. The odds for Kennesaw State to win outright were -130.00, while Sam Houston's moneyline was set at 110.00, indicating a competitive matchup.
Conditions in the arena were typical for a basketball game, with no adverse weather factors reported, allowing both teams to focus solely on their performance.
As the game unfolded, key moments included several scoring plays that highlighted the back-and-forth nature of the contest. Jacob Walker made critical layups for Sam Houston, helping to maintain their lead in the second half. Amir Taylor also contributed with a driving layup, keeping Kennesaw State within striking distance. The tension built as the game neared its conclusion, with free throws from Damon Nicholas Jr. and Po'Boigh King extending Sam Houston's lead to 83-79.
Ultimately, the Bearkats' ability to execute in crucial moments secured their victory, showcasing their resilience and offensive prowess. Fans of both teams witnessed a thrilling game that underscored the competitive spirit of NCAAB basketball.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | KENN -1.5 | 162.5 o -112 / u -108 | Sam Houston Bearkats +110 · Kennesaw State Owls -130 |
Leaders
- PointsAmir Taylor21Kennesaw State Owls
- AssistsRJ Johnson6Kennesaw State Owls
- ReboundsBraedan Lue8Kennesaw State Owls
- PointsDamon Nicholas Jr.21Sam Houston Bearkats
- AssistsJacob Walker7Sam Houston Bearkats
- ReboundsKashie Natt10Sam Houston Bearkats
Recent form
Kennesaw State Owls
Last 10: 6-4Streak L280.4 scored · 77.7 allowed per game5-1 at home
- L87-90vs Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersFeb 12
- L58-77at Jacksonville State GamecocksFeb 8
- W76-53vs New Mexico State AggiesJan 31
- W72-69vs Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 29
- L76-82at Louisiana Tech BulldogsJan 23
- L87-93at Sam Houston BearkatsJan 22
- W81-65at Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 17
- W89-86vs Florida International PanthersJan 15
- W88-82vs Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 10
- W90-80vs Missouri State BearsJan 8
Sam Houston Bearkats
Last 10: 8-2Streak L177.6 scored · 70.3 allowed per game3-1 away
- L78-87at Louisiana Tech BulldogsFeb 7
- W70-66vs UTEP MinersFeb 5
- W83-67vs Louisiana Tech BulldogsFeb 1
- W80-71at Missouri State BearsJan 29
- W73-58vs Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 24
- W93-87vs Kennesaw State OwlsJan 22
- W76-63at Florida International PanthersJan 17
- W77-62at Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 15
- L74-82vs Liberty FlamesJan 10
- W72-60vs Delaware Blue HensJan 9
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 |
Box score
| Stat | Sam Houston Bearkats | Kennesaw State Owls |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-51 | 29-61 |
| Field goal % | 55 | 48 |
| Three-pointers | 7-17 | 10-24 |
| Three-point % | 41 | 42 |
| Free throws | 20-27 | 11-16 |
| Free throw % | 74 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 18 |
| Assists | 14 | 16 |
| Steals | 8 | 7 |
| Blocks | 6 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 36 |
| Fouls | 16 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 74 | 14 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half52-45Veljko Ilic makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half52-46RJ Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-47RJ Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-47Damon Nicholas Jr. makes driving layup
- 2nd Half54-50Trey Simpson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Darius Washington III assists)
- 2nd Half55-50Damon Nicholas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-52Braedan Lue makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half55-53Amir Taylor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-54Amir Taylor makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-54Po'Boigh King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-54Po'Boigh King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-57Trey Simpson makes 23-foot three point jumper (RJ Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half59-57Po'Boigh King makes 19-foot pullup jump shot (Jacob Walker assists)
- 2nd Half59-60Braedan Lue makes 25-foot three point jumper (Amir Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half59-62Braedan Lue makes 3-foot dunk (Amir Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half61-62Po'Boigh King makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half63-62Veljko Ilic makes layup (Kashie Natt assists)
- 2nd Half65-62Po'Boigh King makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-64RJ Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-64Po'Boigh King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-64Po'Boigh King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-64Po'Boigh King makes layup
- 2nd Half69-66RJ Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half69-69Amir Taylor makes 24-foot three point jumper (RJ Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half71-69Kashie Natt makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-71Amir Taylor makes layup (Trey Simpson assists)
- 2nd Half73-71Jacob Walker makes driving layup
- 2nd Half73-72Braedan Lue makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-73Braedan Lue makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-74Amir Taylor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-74Damon Nicholas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-74Damon Nicholas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-74Jacob Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half77-76Amir Taylor makes driving layup
- 2nd Half79-76Jacob Walker makes driving layup
- 2nd Half80-76Damon Nicholas Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half81-76Damon Nicholas Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half81-79RJ Johnson makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half82-79Po'Boigh King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-79Po'Boigh King makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Kennesaw State Owls, below favours Sam Houston Bearkats.
Venue
- VyStar ArenaKennesaw, GA
- Attendance1103
- OfficialsKevin Mathis, Erroll Lewis, Steve Divine
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond