EDINBURG — Two clutch free throws by junior Zach Nutall in the final seconds helped Sam Houston State hold off a furious rally by UTRGV for a 69-66 victory at UTRGV Fieldhouse Monday evening.
 
The Bearkats (5-5) led by as many as 23 in the second half, but the Vaqueros (5-3) used a 14-0 run to cut the advantage to single digits. UTRGV held Sam Houston to just 19.4 percent shooting from the floor in the second half and pulled within 67-66 with 15 seconds to go in the game.
 
The Vaqueros were forced to foul, and Nutall hit both free throws to seal the victory after UTRGV missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds. After going 15 for 16 from the line in the first half, SHSU went 13 for 23 in the second period.
 
Nutall scored a team-high 14 points to extend his consecutive double-digit scoring streak to 24 games. Senior Demarkus Lampley finished with 10 points, and junior Manny Crump chipped in eight.
 
Senior Terryonte Thomas, junior Donte Powers and freshman Jarren Cook each scored eight points for the Bearkats.
 
Sam Houston fell behind early, trailing 21-16 with 11:04 to go in the opening period when the Kats began to turn things around. Thomas provided a spark off the bench by quickly scoring four points as SHSU rallied with an 11-1 run to go up 27-21.
 
Lampley and Cook also got hot. Both players scored five points, Lampley's coming on a 3 and a jumper in consecutive possessions to help the Bearkats close the half on an 26-4 run to build a 42-25 advantage at the half.
 
The Bearkats take a short break for the holidays then return to Johnson Coliseum to face Mary Hardin-Baylor on Dec. 29 at 6:30 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.