SAN ANTONIO — The Bearkats couldn't get a last-second shot off at the buzzer in a 72-71 overtime loss to Incarnate Word after coming back from a 12-point hole in regulation Wednesday night at the McDermott Center.
 
It was the second setback in a row for Sam Houston State as the Bearkats fell to 15-8 on the season and 8-4 in Southland Conference play. The Cardinals improved to 3-8 in the league and 6-16 overall.
 
Sophomore Zach Nutall led the Bearkats with 21 points, and senior Chad Bowie scored 11. Sophomore Xavier Bryant finished with nine points, and junior Demarkus Lampley, junior RJ Smith and senior Kai Mitchell, who fouled out with two and a half minutes left in the second half, all chipped in seven points.
 
Lampley hit three free throws with seven seconds left in regulation to force overtime after the Bearkats used a 19-4 run to overcome a 44-32 deficit and take a 51-48 lead at the 7:55 mark of the second half.
 
The Kats led 71-67 with 36 seconds left in overtime, but allowed the Cardinals to go on a 5-0 run to end it. Sam Houston State hit only 3 of 20 of its 3-point attempts.
 
The Bearkats came out cold from the opening tip as the Cardinals built a double-digit advantage. Down 10-7, Sam Houston went four minutes without scoring when sophomore Xavier Bryant put back a layup at the 9:37 mark.
 
Incarnate Word took control of the half during that stretch, going on an 11-2 run to push the lead to 21-9.
 
The Kats could not get a 3 to fall in the half, going a season-worst 1 for 12 from behind the arc. SHSU shot a dismal 33 percent from the floor, while allowing the Cardinals to shoot 56.5 to trail 36-24 at the break.
 
Sam Houston State continues its three-game road swing Saturday with a 3 p.m. tip at Nicholls.