Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Prediction, 2/1/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Date: Thursday, February 1, 2024

Location: E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY

TV: ESPN+

E. A. Diddle Arena is where the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (14-6) will try to beat the Sam Houston State Bearkats (12-9) on Thursday.

The Sam Houston State Bearkats faced off with UTEP and went home with a win by a final score of 60-56 in their last contest. Sam Houston State wrapped up the contest with a 40.6% FG percentage (26 of 64) and converted 3 of their 13 three-point shots. At the free throw line, the Bearkats buried 5 of 10 attempts for a rate of 50.0%. Concerning hauling in rebounds, they compiled a total of 49 with 20 of them being offensive. They also recorded 12 assists for the contest in addition to forcing the opposition into 15 turnovers and getting 8 steals. In regard to the defense, Sam Houston State allowed the other team to go 36.2% from the floor on 21 out of 58 shooting. UTEP distributed 8 assists and had 13 steals in this contest. In addition, UTEP snagged 29 rebounds (9 offensive, 20 defensive), but didn't have a block. UTEP shot 58.8% from the charity stripe by making 10 of their 17 tries. They made 4 of 16 tries from downtown. In reference to personal fouls, the Bearkats left the arena with 15 and UTEP recorded 12 personal fouls.

Lamar Wilkerson is a guy who was a major factor in this game. He finished the game at 46.7% from the field and dished out 1 assist. He saw the court for 38 mins played and also collected 7 rebounds. He ended up with 16 points on 7 of 15 shooting.

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Sam Houston State comes into this one with a mark of 12-9 so far this season. They turn the ball over 13.1 times per game and as a squad are committing 17.4 personal fouls every game. As a team, Sam Houston State is pulling in 38.3 boards per contest and has accounted for 275 dimes this year, which is 190th in the nation in terms of passing the ball. The Bearkats are shooting 32.5% on 3-pointers (149 of 458) and 71.2% from the free throw line. They average 71.5 pts per game (255th in Division 1) while hitting 40.8% from the floor.

Defensively, the Bearkats are forcing 14.3 turnovers every game while drawing 17.9 personal fouls. They concede 31.6% on 3-pointers while they are 155th in Division 1 in points per game allowed (71.0). The Bearkats are giving up a FG percentage of 44.0% (529 of 1,203) and they relinquish 36.1 rebounds per game as a team. They are 258th in college basketball in allowing assists to their opponents with 285 conceded so far this year.

In their last game, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers walked away with a victory by a final of 105-91 against FIU. In reference to cleaning up the glass, Western Kentucky allowed FIU to get 25 in all (9 on the offensive glass). They shot 42.5% from 3-point land via 17 out of 40 and ended up going 14 out of 15 from the free throw line (93.3%). The Hilltoppers allowed FIU to knock down 30 of 74 tries from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 40.5% in this matchup. When the game finished, the Hilltoppers went 39 for 60 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 65.0%. With respect to shots from 3-point land, Western Kentucky buried 10 out of their 17 tries (58.8%). They were able to bury 17 of the free throw attempts for a percentage of 81.0%. FIU committed 19 personal fouls in this matchup which got the Hilltoppers to the charity stripe for a total of 21 shots. They coughed up the ball 19 times, while recording 9 steals for the matchup. The Hilltoppers pulled down 31 defensive rebounds and 5 offensive rebounds totaling 36 in this game.

Dontaie Allen ended up being a factor for the Hilltoppers in the game. He buried 9 out of 11 for this contest for a rate of 81.8%, and accounted for 1 rebound. He accumulated 30 points in his 33 minutes on the hardwood, but wrapped up this contest with no dimes.

Western Kentucky has a win-loss record of 14-6 for the season. The Hilltoppers are committing 19.1 fouls per contest and they go 68.4% from the charity stripe. Their rate of earning assists is at 13.9 times per contest (145th in the nation) and they are turning it over 14.5 times per contest. Western Kentucky has accounted for 1,611 pts so far this year (80.6 per contest) and they grab 40.5 boards per game. As an offensive unit, the Hilltoppers are shooting 46.7% from the floor, which has them ranked 81st in Division 1.

The Hilltoppers defensively are ranked 270th in D-1 in points allowed per contest with 75.1. They have forced 14.8 turnovers per game and have allowed teams to shoot 41.2% from the field (68th in Division 1). The Western Kentucky defense allows 30.6% on 3-point attempts (154 of 504) and opponents are knocking down 71.8% of their free throw attempts. They concede 13.5 assists and 37.2 boards per game, which has them ranked 235th and 292nd in the country.

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Sam Houston State

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