Photo Credit: Joshua Brenner
Press Release:
CONWAY, S.C. –An offensive onslaught took place in Conway as Texas State (15-9, 8-5 Sun Belt) had its way at Coastal Carolina (12-12, 5-8 Sun Belt) and won its fourth consecutive road game by the count of 100-63 on Thursday night at the HTC Center.
A wire-to-wire victory saw the Bobcats score a then season-high 48 points in a half vs. a Division I opponent, just to see the team erupt for 52 points in the final 20 minutes. Texas State logged season-highs vs. a Division I opponent in points (100), field goal percentage (62.5%), field goals made (40) and assists (24). Defensively, the Bobcats limited the Chanticleers to a 37.5 field goal percentage (21-of-56), including a 5-of-26 performance from behind-the-arc.
The Bobcats finished with five players scoring in double figures for just the second time this season. Leading the pack was senior guard Nijal Pearson who had 20 points (7-of-12) and was a perfect 3-of-3 from long distance. Pearson also had three rebounds, two assists and one steal. Sophomore forward Alonzo Sule recorded his third consecutive game with 10 or more points as he scored 15 points, led the team with seven rebounds and matched a season-high two blocks. Sule also had one steal. Senior forward Eric Terry had 14 points (6-of-7) to go along with two boards, one assist and a block, while junior forward Quentin Scott scored a career-high 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor and 4-of-5 shooting at the free-throw line. Scott added a career-high three assists, and registered two rebounds, and one steal. Sophomore guard Caleb Asberry rounded out the top scorers for the Bobcats with 10 points (5-of-9) and had two rebounds and one assist.
Coastal Carolina was led by sophomore guard DeVante Jones’ 15 points and three assists. Sophomore guard Malik Legania had 11 points, and senior forward Tommy Burton flirted with a double-double with 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Bobcat offense was clicking early and used a 16-3 run highlighted by 11 unanswered points to take a 27-12 lead with 7:47 left on the clock. Coastal pulled within 10 points at 35-25, but the Bobcats responded with a 6-0 run and another 7-0 run to give the visiting team a 48-27 advantage at the half. Texas State shot 64.3 percent from the floor (18-of-28) and had 12 assists. They knocked down four of their seven 3-point field goal attempts (57.1%) and was 8-of-9 at the stripe. All while holding CCU to 33.0 percent from the field (9-of-27), including a 3-of-13 performance from behind-the-arc. Pearson led all scorers with 11 points, followed by Sule’s 10 points and four rebounds. Burton led the Chants in scoring with eight points.
Second Half
The Bobcats picked up where they left off from the first half and stretched their lead to 35 behind a 15-2 run at the 14:15 mark, bringing the score to 67-33. The Maroon and Gold did not let off the gas, however, and ballooned their lead to 43 points (96-53). Texas State continued its hot shooting with a 61.1 percentage in the second half (22-of-36) to run away with the game.
TXST GAME NOTES
• The Bobcats now have three regular-season sweeps over conference opponents (ULM, Louisiana, Coastal Carolina).
• TXST improves to 8-2 all-time vs. Coastal and 4-0 when playing in Conway.
• It was the first time the Bobcats scored 100 or more points against a Division I program in the Danny Kaspar era and the first time in program history since Dec. 3, 2011 vs. Houston Baptist (103-76).
• Texas State is 15-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play when holding its opponent to 69 points or below this season.
• Texas State turned the Chants over 16 times and outscored the home team 27-9 in points off of turnovers.
• TXST bench outscored CCU 47-28. The Bobcats are 14-4 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt when outscoring their opponent’s bench.
• The Bobcats dominated the paint in scoring (48-30) and also had six blocks which is a season-high in Sun Belt contests.
• The last time the Bobcats scored at least 48 points in the first half vs. a Division I opponent was when they scored 49 points vs. SIU Edwardsville at the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii on Nov. 14, 2016.
• The last time Texas State had 20 or more assists was on Dec.29, 2018 vs. HPU (20).
• TXST had one turnover in the second half.
• The last time five players scored 10 or more points was in the 2019-20 season opener vs. Texas Lutheran.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Pearson has scored 20 or more points 12 times this season and 29 times in his career.
• Pearson is now in sole possession of No. 8 all-time with 268 career assists. Was tied with Billy Bahnsen (1981-85, 266).
• It is the second time this season that Sule has scored in double figures in three consecutive games. He has reached the 10-point plateau 10 times this year.
• Sule has led the team in rebounding in six total games this season, including the last three games. Sule also has two multi-block games this season.
• It was Terry’s first double-digit game since Jan. 6, 2020 (10 points vs. Troy).
• Sophomore guard Mason Harrell recorded a career-high seven assists to go along with eight points, three rebounds and a steal.
QUOTES
Head coach Danny Kaspar’s thoughts on tonight’s performance…
“We played a very good game tonight, both offensively and defensively. Our players were really focused and their execution showed it. I am very proud of them.”
UP NEXT
Texas State will take on Appalachian State at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Holmes Center in Boone, N.C.
