HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Sam Houston held off a second-half surge from Jacksonville State for an 82-78 men’s basketball victory Saturday at Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats led 36-26 at halftime, but the Gamecocks scored 52 points after intermission to keep pressure on the home team. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil led all scorers with 38 points for Jacksonville State. Po’Boigh King paced Sam Houston with 19 points, and Jacob Walker added 17. Sam Houston improved to 19-8 overall and in Conference USA play. Jacksonville State fell to 13-14. Attendance was 852.

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a blistering individual performance and a final-minute escape, the Sam Houston Bearkats held off a furious second-half rally from Mostapha El Moutaouakkil and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks for an 82-78 Conference USA victory on Saturday afternoon at Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats, now 19-8 overall, appeared poised for a comfortable win after building a 10-point halftime lead, but El Moutaouakkil’s relentless scoring barrage brought the Gamecocks all the way back and set the stage for a tense finish in front of 852 fans. Sam Houston’s victory was anchored by efficiency and poise at the free-throw line. The Bearkats converted 23 of 28 foul shots, including several critical makes in the final 30 seconds to seal the win. They also committed just five turnovers, a season-low mark that helped offset a Jacksonville State defense that generated 11 steals. The Bearkats shot 49.1% from the field and posted an offensive rating of 120.1 points per 100 possessions. Jacksonville State, which fell to 13-14, was carried by an extraordinary effort from El Moutaouakkil. The 6-foot-6 guard from Rabat, Morocco, scored a game-high 38 points in 32 minutes, shooting 14 of 22 from the field and adding three steals. His scoring explosion fueled a second half in which the Gamecocks poured in 52 points, erasing what was once a 36-26 deficit. Jacksonville State shot 48.3% overall and outscored Sam Houston 40-36 in the paint, but were ultimately undone by a 9-2 disadvantage in offensive rebounds and the Bearkats’ late-game execution from the charity stripe. The first half established Sam Houston’s control. After a sloppy start from both sides, the Bearkats used a balanced attack and capitalized on Jacksonville State miscues to build their lead. Po’Boigh King, who finished with 19 points, and Jacob Walker, who added 17, provided consistent offense, while 7-foot center Matt Dann contributed six points and two blocks to anchor the interior defense. The Bearkats closed the opening period on a 14-4 run, capped by a Jacobe Coleman layup with 23 seconds left, to take a 36-26 advantage into the break. The second half transformed into the El Moutaouakkil show. He scored 26 of his points after halftime, attacking the rim and drawing fouls. His driving layup with 6:18 remaining cut Sam Houston’s lead to 60-58, completing a dramatic comeback and setting up a back-and-forth final stretch. Jamar Franklin provided a crucial spark off the bench for the Gamecocks, hitting three 3-pointers and scoring all 11 of his points in the second half to keep the pressure on the Bearkats. Every time Jacksonville State drew close, Sam Houston found an answer. With the Gamecocks trailing 73-70, King sank a critical 3-pointer from the wing off a feed from Veljko Ilic to push the lead back to six with 1:22 to play. Free throws then became the deciding factor. After El Moutaouakkil hit a 3-pointer to pull Jacksonville State within 80-78 with six seconds left, Kashie Natt was fouled and calmly sank both free throws for the final margin. Natt scored 15 points, with nine coming from the foul line in the second half. The most important sequence of the game occurred in the final 14 seconds. Clinging to an 80-78 lead after El Moutaouakkil’s late three, Sam Houston successfully inbounded the ball to Natt, who was immediately fouled. The junior guard from Rayville, Louisiana, stepped to the line and made both free throws under pressure, extending the lead to two possessions and effectively ending Jacksonville State’s hopes. This clutch performance at the line exemplified Sam Houston’s composure down the stretch, as they made 11 of 12 free throws in the final 1:03 to secure the win. Sam Houston’s backcourt duo of King and Walker combined for 36 points, while Coleman and Damon Nicholas each added nine. Jaye Nash directed the Jacksonville State offense with five assists to go with seven points. The Bearkats improved their standing in Conference USA with the win, while Jacksonville State’s losing streak extended to four games. Sam Houston will host Florida International on Thursday. Jacksonville State returns home to face Delaware on Thursday.

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — A surging Sam Houston squad looks to continue its push atop the Conference USA standings when it hosts a Jacksonville State team seeking to snap a skid on Saturday at Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats (18-8, 8-3 CUSA) enter the matchup having won seven of their last nine games, including a 78-70 victory over Middle Tennessee on Wednesday. Guard Jacob Walker, a key catalyst, scored 20 points in that win and is averaging 16.4 points over his last five contests. Sam Houston won the season’s first meeting decisively, 77-62, at Jacksonville State on Jan. 14. The visiting Gamecocks (13-13, 4-7) have lost three straight since that Feb. 7 win, most recently falling 77-71 at Louisiana Tech. Despite the team’s struggles, guard Mostapha El Moutaouakkil has been a bright spot, erupting for 27 points in the loss to the Bulldogs. He is averaging 21.1 points per game over his last seven outings, including a 31-point performance at Florida International last month. Jacksonville State’s challenge will be containing a balanced Sam Houston offense that features multiple scoring threats, including Veljko Ilic, who had 15 points and five assists against Middle Tennessee. The Bearkats are 11-2 at home this season. For the Gamecocks, finding consistent support for El Moutaouakkil is critical. AC Bryant added 17 points in the midweek loss, but Jacksonville State has struggled offensively during its losing streak, failing to reach 72 points in any of the three games. A Sam Houston victory would solidify its position near the top of the conference with the regular season winding down. A Jacksonville State win would provide a crucial resume boost and halt its late-season slide. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.