The Sam Houston Bearkats men's basketball team, represents

Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University (Sam Houston, SHSU or Sam) is a public research university in Huntsville, Texas, United States. Founded in 1879, it is the third-oldest public college or university in Texas. It is one of the first normal schools wes ...

Huntsville Huntsville is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population of the city is estimated to be 241,114 in 2024, making it the 100th-most populous city in the U.S. The Huntsville metropolitan area had an estimated 525,465 ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, United States. The Bearkats were one of four programs, all from Texas, that left the

Southland Conference The Southland Conference (SLC) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the South Central United States (specifically Texas and Louisiana). It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in ...

on July 1, 2021 to join the

Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the Western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, Texas, Utah and Washington (state), Washington. Due to ...

(WAC). Sam Houston had previously been a member of the

since the 1987–88 season. The Bearkats have played home games at

Johnson Coliseum Bernard Johnson Coliseum is a 6,110-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. It was built in 1976 and is home to the Sam Houston Bearkats men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the Bear ...

, a 6,110 seat indoor arena, since 1976, when it was then called University Coliseum. On July 1, 2023 the Bearkats joined

Conference USA Conference USA (CUSA) is a collegiate athletic conference of member institutions in the Southern and Western United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports. CUSA's offices are located in Dallas, Texas. Mem ...

History

Sam Houston has a prestigious history in regards to men's basketball. The Bearkats have fielded a basketball team since 1917, excluding the 1942–43 and 1943–44 basketball seasons. Basketball was not played these years because

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

had decimated male enrollment at Sam Houston. Success began early as Sam Houston went 43–11 during its first five years, including an unblemished 24–0 record during its first three. During the 21st century, Sam Houston's men's basketball program boasts the second-winningest program in Texas Division I, only behind

. The Bearkats are also the winningest program in the Southland Conference during the last decade.

Home Courts

Due to a lack of funds, it was not until 1924 that the school built the Men's Gymnasium, near the corner of 20th (now Bowers) and Avenue I. Nicknamed the "Cracker Box" Gym, the building was wood framed and lasted until the 1950s. Its most famous moment, though, did not involve athletics, but a visit by First Lady

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt ( ; October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, first lady of the United States, during her husband Franklin D ...

in 1937. After the demolition of the Men's Gym the school built what is referred to as the New Gymnasium or Bearkat Gymnasium (depending on the source), opening in 1956 at the corner of 20th (now Bowers) and Avenue J. This gym had room for 3,000 as well as dormitory space under the seats, and was the team's home for another 20 seasons until the opening of the University Coliseum, now known as the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Located at 20th (now Bowers) and Avenue H (now Bobby K. Marks Dr), this arena still serves the university today. The second gym has undergone several conversions and is now known as Academic Building Three.

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division I Tournament

The Bearkats have appeared in two NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 0–2. Sam Houston basketball 2009-03-12

NIT results

The Bearkats have appeared in two

National Invitation Tournament The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament are played at various sites across the country whi ...

. Their combined record is 1–2.

CIT results

The Bearkats have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) four times. Their combined record is 4–4.

NCAA Division II Tournament

The Bearkats have appeared in one NCAA Division II tournament. Their record is 0–2.