AUSTIN — Sam Houston State got off to a slow start offensively, and it proved to be too much of an early deficit to overcome in a 76-63 loss to No. 11 Texas at the Erwin Center Wednesday.
 
Junior Zach Nutall scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Bearkats (3-5), who played two games in three days against Power 5 opponents following Monday's loss to LSU. Junior transfer Donte Powers added 11 points, and junior transfer Tristan Ikpe chipped in eight.
 
True freshman Kian Scroggins had his best game as a Kat, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds to go along with five points off the bench.
 
The Longhorns (6-1) jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first two and half minutes of the game. SHSU responded with a 6-2 run, but Texas was able to stretch the lead back to double digits and took a 44-26 lead into the half.
 
The Bearkats shot only 35 percent from the floor but went eight for 18 from behind the 3-point line with Nutall hitting four of his six attempts from long range.
 
The Longhorns led by as many as 27 at 65-38 with just over 11 minutes left in the game. Nutall answered with a pair of 3s, a layup and pair of free throws to spark an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 65-49.
 
The Bearkats return home to host Rice at Johnson Coliseum Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the ticket office at (936) 294-1729 and must be secured in advance.