Sam Houston Bearkats at UC Irvine Anteaters
· SUN BOWL INVITATIONAL
<span class="badge bg-danger" style="font-size: 1.2em; margin: 5px 0;">Final</span>
53 - 63
53 - 63
Nelson leads UC Irvine to 63-53 win over Sam Houston State
Nelson also had three assists and one steal. Jaron Martin added nine points and Alex Young had six points, four assists and two steals for UC Irvine (9-4) which won back-to-back games for the first time since starting the season 4-0.
The victory left coach Russell Turner just one win shy of 100 victories in his sixth season with the Anteaters.
UC Irvine trailed most of the first half and was behind 30-25 at the break. Young nailed a 3-point jumper at the 16:25 mark to start a 16-4 run and give the Anteaters a 46-38 lead with 9:16 left.
Aurimas Majauskas led Sam Houston State (5-6) with 16 points.
How can I watch Sam Houston vs. UC Irvine?
Statistics
 SHSU |
 UCI |
|
|---|---|---|
| 19-55 | FG | 22-51 |
| 35 | Field Goal % | 43 |
| 4-15 | 3PT | 5-19 |
| 27 | Three Point % | 26 |
| 11-20 | FT | 14-17 |
| 55 | Free Throw % | 82 |
| 38 | Rebounds | 34 |
| 12 | Offensive Rebounds | 4 |
| 26 | Defensive Rebounds | 30 |
| 11 | Assists | 14 |
| 3 | Steals | 8 |
| 0 | Blocks | 4 |
| 13 | Turnovers | 10 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 13 | Total Turnovers | 10 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Points Off Turnovers | 0 |
| 0 | Fast Break Points | 0 |
| 0 | Points in Paint | 0 |
| 18 | Fouls | 22 |
Game Information
Venue: Don Haskins Center
Location: El Paso, TX
Capacity:
Location: El Paso, TX
Capacity:
2025-26 Conference USA Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 17-3 | - | 26-8 |
| Sam Houston | 13-7 | 4 | 22-12 |
| Louisiana Tech | 11-9 | 6 | 20-14 |
| Western Kentucky | 11-9 | 6 | 18-14 |
| Middle Tennessee | 11-9 | 6 | 17-15 |
| Kennesaw State | 10-10 | 7 | 21-14 |
| Jacksonville State | 10-10 | 7 | 15-17 |
| New Mexico State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-16 |
| Missouri State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-18 |
| Florida International | 8-12 | 9 | 15-17 |
| UTEP | 7-13 | 8 | 11-20 |
| Delaware | 6-14 | 11 | 10-21 |
2025-26 Big West Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 15-5 | - | 23-12 |
| Hawai'i | 14-6 | 1 | 24-9 |
| UC San Diego | 12-8 | 3 | 23-11 |
| Cal State Northridge | 12-8 | 3 | 20-14 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 12-8 | 3 | 18-16 |
| UC Davis | 11-9 | 4 | 19-14 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 11-9 | 4 | 18-14 |
| Cal Poly | 10-10 | 5 | 14-19 |
| Long Beach State | 6-14 | 9 | 10-22 |
| UC Riverside | 5-15 | 10 | 10-22 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 2-18 | 13 | 8-24 |