Louisiana Tech Tops Sam Houston in Thrilling Finish
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET · Thomas Assembly Center
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 87, Sam Houston Bearkats 78, 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 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs?
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs beat Sam Houston Bearkats 87-78 at Thomas Assembly Center on February 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Sam Houston Bearkats vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs?
Sam Houston Bearkats were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -175 (about 64% implied). The underdog won.
In a high-stakes matchup at the Thomas Assembly Center, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs triumphed over the Sam Houston Bearkats with a final score of 87-78. This victory not only snapped the Bulldogs' two-game losing streak but also showcased their resilience against a team that had been riding a seven-game winning streak.
Louisiana Tech entered the game with a home record of 13-10 and had struggled recently, posting a 4-6 record over their last ten games, averaging 63.8 points scored and allowing 70.6 points per game. Their recent form included losses to the New Mexico State Aggies and the Bearkats themselves, who defeated them 83-67 just a week prior. In contrast, Sam Houston boasted a strong away record of 16-8, with an impressive 8-2 record in their last ten games, scoring an average of 76.5 points while allowing 68.4.
The Bulldogs' recent form had raised concerns, particularly as they faced a formidable opponent in Sam Houston, who had been on a roll leading up to this game. However, Louisiana Tech's performance at home had shown some promise, with a home record of 3-2 in their last five games. The Bearkats, on the other hand, had been dominant away from home, with a 5-1 record in their last six road games. This context set the stage for a highly competitive encounter.
Historically, Louisiana Tech has had the upper hand in their recent meetings with Sam Houston, holding a 2-1 record in their last three matchups. They had previously defeated the Bearkats decisively in March 2025, winning 90-66, but had fallen short in their latest encounter just a week before this game. The stakes were high for both teams, with Louisiana Tech looking to assert their dominance at home and Sam Houston aiming to continue their winning momentum.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the absence of key players can often impact a team's performance, especially in tightly contested games like this one.
The betting market reflected the competitive nature of the matchup, with DraftKings setting the odds at Sam Houston -3.5, indicating that they were favored to win. The total for the game was set at 143.5, suggesting expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair. The odds for the home moneyline were +145, while the away moneyline stood at -175, further emphasizing the Bearkats' status as favorites.
The game conditions were conducive to a thrilling contest, with both teams displaying their offensive capabilities. As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a series of critical scoring plays that defined the outcome. In the second half, Kaden Cooper made crucial free throws to extend Louisiana Tech's lead, while Avery Thomas II's dunk and Po'Boigh King's three-pointer kept the Bearkats within striking distance. However, the Bulldogs' ability to convert free throws in the closing moments ultimately sealed their victory.
As the final buzzer sounded, Louisiana Tech's home win probability had climbed to 1.0, highlighting their successful effort to reclaim momentum in the season. This game served as a reminder of the unpredictability of college basketball, where any team can rise to the occasion and turn the tide in their favor.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SHSU -3.5 | 143.5 o -105 / u -115 | Sam Houston Bearkats -175 · Louisiana Tech Bulldogs +145 |
Leaders
- PointsAJ Bates21Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
- AssistsAJ Bates6Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
- ReboundsKaden Cooper18Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
- PointsPo'Boigh King21Sam Houston Bearkats
- AssistsJacobe Coleman4Sam Houston Bearkats
- ReboundsKashie Natt5Sam Houston Bearkats
Recent form
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Last 10: 4-6Streak L263.8 scored · 70.6 allowed per game3-2 at home
- L63-72vs New Mexico State AggiesFeb 5
- L67-83at Sam Houston BearkatsFeb 1
- W69-59at UTEP MinersJan 29
- W82-76vs Kennesaw State OwlsJan 23
- L60-64at Jacksonville State GamecocksJan 17
- W59-58vs Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 15
- W70-68vs Delaware Blue HensJan 10
- L56-72vs Liberty FlamesJan 9
- L61-66at Western Kentucky HilltoppersJan 4
- L51-88at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 3
Sam Houston Bearkats
Last 10: 8-2Streak W776.5 scored · 68.4 allowed per game3-1 away
- 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
- L67-68at Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersJan 4
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 | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-57 | 30-65 |
| Field goal % | 44 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 13-27 | 1-17 |
| Three-point % | 48 | 6 |
| Free throws | 15-21 | 26-35 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 74 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 46 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 18 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 28 |
| Assists | 14 | 17 |
| Steals | 9 | 10 |
| Blocks | 4 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 25 | 23 |
| Points in the paint | 16 | 48 |
| Fouls | 22 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 51 | 35 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half53-51Sir Issac Herron makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half53-53Avery Thomas II makes layup
- 2nd Half53-55Avery Thomas II makes layup
- 2nd Half53-56Sir Issac Herron makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-57Sir Issac Herron makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-57Jacobe Coleman makes 23-foot three point jumper (Po'Boigh King assists)
- 2nd Half56-59AJ Bates makes 17-foot jumper (Sir Issac Herron assists)
- 2nd Half56-60AJ Bates makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half57-60Veljko Ilic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-61Kaden Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-61Po'Boigh King makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half59-63Sir Issac Herron makes layup (AJ Bates assists)
- 2nd Half61-63Jacob Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half62-63Jacob Walker makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half62-64Sir Issac Herron makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-65Sir Issac Herron makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-67AJ Bates makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-67Matt Dann makes layup (Jacobe Coleman assists)
- 2nd Half64-69Kaden Cooper makes layup (Scooter Williams assists)
- 2nd Half66-69Jacob Walker makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half66-71AJ Bates makes layup
- 2nd Half67-71Jacob Walker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-71Jacob Walker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-73Avery Thomas II makes layup (DJ Dudley assists)
- 2nd Half68-74AJ Bates makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-75AJ Bates makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-77AJ Bates makes layup (Kaden Cooper assists)
- 2nd Half71-77Po'Boigh King makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kashie Natt assists)
- 2nd Half71-78AJ Bates makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-78Jacobe Coleman makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half74-79AJ Bates makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-80Kaden Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-81Kaden Cooper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-81Jacob Walker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-83Avery Thomas II makes 1-foot dunk (AJ Bates assists)
- 2nd Half78-83Po'Boigh King makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jacobe Coleman assists)
- 2nd Half78-84Scooter Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-85Scooter Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-86Kaden Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-87Kaden Cooper makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, below favours Sam Houston Bearkats.
Venue
- Thomas Assembly CenterRuston, LA
- Attendance2670
- OfficialsJames Hicks, Nick Meyer, Hunter Allen
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