Sam Houston Bearkats rout Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens in NCAAM matchup

Bearkats' rebounding and defense prove too much for Blue Hens in 78-68 victory

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Sam Houston Bearkats defeated the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 78-68 in a college basketball matchup on Thursday, March 5th. The Bearkats' aggressive rebounding and stifling defense were the keys to the victory, as they outrebounded the Blue Hens 40.69 to 30.7 and forced 16.5% turnovers compared to Delaware's 18.5%. Freshman guard Jacob Walker led the way for Sam Houston with 20 and 23 points in his last two games, while Delaware was paced by the high-minute duo of Christian Bliss and Justyn Fernandez.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the contrasting styles and strengths of the two teams, with Sam Houston's physical, possession-focused approach proving too much for Delaware's guard-heavy, one-shot offense. The result raises questions about Delaware's ability to compete with more well-rounded teams as they look to improve on their 9-20 record, while Sam Houston solidifies its status as a team built for March with its dominant rebounding and defense.

The details

Sam Houston's four-factor profile of a 32.1% offensive rebounding rate, 14.4% turnover rate, and 0.350 free throw attempt to field goal attempt ratio proved too much for Delaware, whose own profile of an 18.5% offensive rebounding rate, 16.5% turnover rate, and 0.313 free throw attempt to field goal attempt ratio left them vulnerable to second-chance points and transition opportunities. Freshman guard Jacob Walker's recent scoring outbursts of 20 and 23 points provided an added boost for the Bearkats, while Delaware leaned heavily on the 39.9 minutes per game played by Christian Bliss and the 16.8 points per game from Justyn Fernandez.

  • Sam Houston has won 21 games so far this season.
  • Delaware enters the game with a 9-20 record.

The players

Jacob Walker

A freshman guard for Sam Houston who has scored 20 and 23 points in his last two games, providing a scoring boost for the Bearkats.

Christian Bliss

A guard for Delaware who leads the nation in minutes played per game at 39.9 and is the team's leading scorer in 24 of 29 games.

Justyn Fernandez

A guard for Delaware who averages 16.8 points per game on 45.1% shooting, providing a secondary scoring option for the Blue Hens.

Kashie Natt

A guard for Sam Houston who ranks top-35 nationally in steals per game at 2.03, helping fuel the Bearkats' transition offense.

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What they’re saying

“We must take care of the ball and limit second-chance opportunities if we want to have a chance against a team as physical as Sam Houston.”

— Christian Bliss, Guard, Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (Delaware News Journal)

“Our rebounding and defense have been the keys to our success all season, and we knew we had to bring that intensity on the road to get the win tonight.”

— Kashie Natt, Guard, Sam Houston Bearkats (Sam Houston Athletics)

What’s next

Sam Houston will look to continue its strong play as it prepares for the upcoming conference tournament, while Delaware will aim to regroup and finish the season on a high note.

The takeaway

This game showcased the contrasting styles and strengths of the two teams, with Sam Houston's physical, possession-focused approach proving too much for Delaware's guard-heavy, one-shot offense. The result highlights the importance of well-rounded team play, particularly in rebounding and defense, as teams look to make a deep run in the postseason.