HUNTSVILLE, Texas — In a thrilling encounter on Saturday evening, Sam Houston emerged victorious over Florida International with a score of 81-74, propelled by an impressive performance from Lamar Wilkerson, who tallied 29 points.

Wilkerson showcased his shooting prowess, connecting on 10 out of 15 attempts from the field, including 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. Furthermore, he was flawless at the charity stripe, hitting all four of his free-throw attempts for the Bearkats, whose record now stands at 8-9 overall and 1-3 in Conference USA play. Joining him in the scoring effort, Marcus Boykin contributed 17 points, having made 3 out of 9 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range, in addition to converting 8 of 9 free throws. Cameron Huefner also made a mark on the scoreboard with 16 points, shooting 3 for 10 overall, including 1 for 5 from long range, while going 9 of 11 from the free-throw line.

On the other side, the Panthers of Florida International, now at 7-10 overall and 1-3 in the conference, were led by Jayden Brewer, who scored 20 points along with three steals. Asim Jones added 13 points and contributed two steals for the team, while Jonathan Aybar rounded out a strong performance with 12 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Thursday. Sam Houston will travel to Kennesaw State, while Florida International will return home to take on New Mexico State in their respective matchups.