UNM Lobos to Host Sam Houston State in NIT Game

The Lobos will face off against the Bearkats at The Pit on Wednesday.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:33pm

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The University of New Mexico men's basketball team has earned a spot in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and will host Sam Houston State University at The Pit on Wednesday.

Why it matters

The Lobos' NIT appearance comes after they narrowly missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid, providing the team and fans with another opportunity to compete in postseason play at their home arena.

The details

The Lobos secured an NIT bid after finishing the regular season with a 19-14 record. They will face off against the Sam Houston State Bearkats, who earned an automatic bid to the NIT by winning the Southland Conference regular-season title.

  • The NIT game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

The players

University of New Mexico Lobos

The men's basketball team of the University of New Mexico, a public research university located in Albuquerque.

Sam Houston State Bearkats

The men's basketball team of Sam Houston State University, a public university located in Huntsville, Texas.

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What’s next

The winner of the UNM-Sam Houston State game will advance to the next round of the NIT tournament.

The takeaway

The Lobos' NIT appearance provides an opportunity for the team to continue their season and compete for a postseason championship, despite narrowly missing out on the NCAA Tournament.