Dallas – Dakarai Henderson led Sam Houston with 17 points as the Bearkats fell to American Athletic Conference preseason favorite SMU 85-50 before a packed house at Moody Coliseum Saturday.

In the season opener for both men's basketball squads, the Mustangs hit 63.3 per cent from the field with 31 baskets in 49 attempts. Seven of the shots were three-pointers.

The Mustangs hit three of their first four shots to build an 11-3 lead just three minutes into the contest. A lay-up by Jalin Barnes and a Henderson three-pointer cut that margin to 13-8 with 14:55 to play in the half but the Kats never came closer. SMU built a 40-19 lead by intermission.

Sam Houston posted 31 points in the second half. For the night, the Bearkats were 17-of-61 from the field.

Transfer Ameer Jackson scored nine points including a couple of buckets from beyond the arc. Torry Butler totaled five points and Aurimas Majauskas added four. Butler led the team with 11 rebounds. Shake Milton led SMU with 17 points.

The Sam Houston men's basketball team will play host to the University of Saint Thomas Tuesday night at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m.