DALLAS — Junior Zach Nutall scored a career-high 36 points, but SMU opened up a double-digit lead late in the first half to pull away for a 97-67 victory over Sam Houston State in the season opener at Moody Coliseum Wednesday evening.
 
Senior Demarkus Lampley scored eight points and junior Tristan Ikpe added six points for the Bearkats who stay on the road to play Texas Tech in Lubbock on Friday at 1 p.m.
 
SHSU's biggest lead was 10-7 at the 16:11 mark of the first half. The game was tied at 22 with under seven minutes to go in the opening period, but the Mustangs closed on an 18-5 run to take a 40-27 lead into halftime.
 
Nutall, whose previous career high was 28 against Nicholls last season, hit 12 of 23, or 52 percent, of his shot attempts. He was also 6 for 12 from 3-point range.
 
SMU shot 52.5 percent from the floor and got a 33-point performance from junior guard Kendric Davis.