Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Lamar Cardinals Betting Preview
The Sam Houston State Bearkats (16-6, 10-1 Southland) head into the home stretch of the regular season tied for first place in the Southland Conference with Abilene Christian. On Thursday, they look to take a big step toward being the top seed in the conference tournament when they travel to face the Lamar Cardinals (4-15, 2-8).
Tipoff for the game, which had to be rescheduled from Wednesday due to inclement weather, is set for 8 p.m. ET from the Montagne Center in Beaumont, Tx, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
These teams met on Jan. 13, with the Bearkats winning 96-71 as 7.5-point favorites. Overall, SHSU leads the series 37-34, but it is just 13-21 in Beaumont. Over the last five years, the Bearkats are 6-4 but just 1-3 on the road.
For those looking to do some Sam Houston State vs Lamar betting, Sam Houston State is an 8½-point favorite in this one, with the over/under set at 145½.
Sam Houston State Offense is Explosive
The Bearkats are 11-5 ATS, and the under is 10-5-1 in their 16 games. Overall, they are 10-0 at home and 5-5 on the road with one neutral-court loss.
SHSU ranks 22nd in the nation in scoring at 81.1 points per game as it shoots 45.6% from the floor and 37.1% from beyond the arc. The defense allows 70.3 points per game and ranks 10th in the nation, allowing just 28.5% shooting from 3-point range.
The Bearkats looked like a team ready for NCAA March Madness on Saturday, blowing out Central Arkansas by a 97-57 final score. They made 13-of-31 (41.9%) from deep and shot 54% from the floor. Guard Zach Nutall led the way with 23 points, while guard Jarren Cook had 18 off the bench.
Nutall leads the team at 19.1 points per game, while guard Demarkus Lampley scores 14.9 points per game. Forward Tristan Ikpe leads the team at 6.1 rebounds per game, and guard Donte Powers averages 3.3 assists per game.
In the January win over Lamar, the Bearkats made college basketball news as they shot 55.4% from the field and 45.2% from 3-point range. They also won the rebounding battle by 11 and held Lamar to 2-of-11 shooting from 3-point range.
Cardinals Defense Holding Them Back
Lamar is 7-11 ATS, and the under is 10-8 in its 18 games. They are 3-4 at the Montagne Center with a 1-10 record on the road. Overall they have lost four in a row and six of the last seven.
Defense has been a struggle all season, as the Cardinals rank in the bottom 50 in the nation in points allowed (75.4), shooting percentage (.471) and 3-point shooting percentage (.391). The offense has scored 64.2 points per game while making just 39.5% of its shots and 28.4% from deep. Lamar has been outrebounded by 3.5 rebounds per game.
In Saturday’s 80-75 loss at Houston Baptist, the Cardinals shot just 38.7% from the floor and allowed 64.3% from beyond the arc. They stayed in the game by making 19-of-20 free throws and were led in scoring by guard Anderson Kopp’s 17 points.
Guard Davion Buster leads the Cardinals with 15.2 points per game, while guard Kasen Harrison has averaged 12.1 points and 4.1 assists. Forward Avery Sullivan leads the team at 7.3 rebounds per game to go with 10.8 points per game, and Kopp is also in double figures at 10.2 points per game.
In the loss at SHSU, the Cardinals were outrebounded by 11 and made just 13-of-26 free throws. Harrison (14), Quinlan Bennett (13), Sullivan (12) and Lincoln Smith (12) all scored in double figures, but the duo of Buster and Kopp was held to 5-of-19 shooting for 13 combined points.
Betting Pick
Sam Houston State has scored at least 75 points in each of its last four wins and in seven of its last nine games overall. The last time these teams met, the total was 147½, and SHSU was a seven-point favorite.
The Bearkats easily covered that line and total the first time and should this time around as well. Lamar can’t keep up with the Bearkats’ scoring, and it also struggles to defend the perimeter, a place where the visitors excel.
When making your college basketball picks, give the points and take the Bearkats to cover.
