Nov. 27, 2004

Box Score

LORMAN, Miss - For a second straight game, Texas State senior forward Zach Allison scored 18 points and also cleaned the boards for a career-high 14 rebounds to help lead the Bobcats to a 65-49 road win and spoil Alcorn State's home opener on Saturday.

Allison, who had an 18-point, 9-rebound night in a 73-56 win over St. Edward's last Tuesday, went 7-for-14 from the field against Alcorn State. He stepped out on the perimeter to knock down 4-of-6 three-pointers to lead Texas State's three-point threat. As a team, the Bobcats were 10-of-21 from three-point range and through their first three games have nailed 26 treys.

"He really got us out of the blocks early," Texas State coach Dennis Nutt said of Allison's performance. "He hit the two threes that really got us going and his rebounding was outstanding tonight."

With the win, Texas State improved to 2-1 heading into Saturday's road game at SMU. Alcorn State, which opened its season with four straight on the road, fell to 0-5. The Braves play host to Arkansas Baptist on Saturday.

Against Alcorn State, Allison was part of a one-two inside punch that included Anthony Dill also registering his first career double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 boards as the Bobcats outrebounded Alcorn by 12 boards.

"We were really concerned with their athleticism and dribble penetration," Nutt said. "Our guys did a good job of finishing their possessions with a rebound especially in the first half."

Texas State built a 15-point lead at intermission by limiting the Braves to second-chance opportunities. Led by Anthony Dill's seven rebounds in the first period, the Bobcats outrebounded Alcorn State 23-15 and held the Braves to just four offensive boards.

Texas State finished the half with a flurry, scoring the final 10 points of the period to take a 29-14 lead at the break.

The Bobcats' run began with a three-pointer from the top of the key by Chris Langhorne that put the `Cats up 22-14. Langhorne would add a pair from the free throw line and after one of Alcorn State's nine, first-half turnovers the Bobcats would call a timeout with 48 seconds to play.

Out of the break, the Bobcats worked the ball inside to freshman Matt Canady who used a nifty move to split a double team and score with 34 seconds to play. On Texas State's next possession, Josh Naylor finished off a fastbreak by stepping behind the arc and dropping a three-pointer to give the Bobcats a 15-point advantage.

In the second half, Alcorn State would cut the Bobcats' lead to 11 on two occasions. The first time came at 41-30 with just under 12 minutes to play. Most of the damage came via the shooting of junior guard DeAndre Jones who scored eight straight points for the Braves capped by a four-point play.

Texas State forward Markee White, who joined the squad earlier this week from the football squad, knocked down his first career points on a baseline jumper before Lance Burroughs scored a reverse layup. Allison added a pair of buckets including a three-pointer as the shot clock wound down to put Texas State up 50-32 with 9:17 to play.

After a pair of three-pointers by Naylor stretched the Bobcats' lead to 56-37, Alcorn State would pull to within 11 again, 56-45 with 4:36 left. But the Braves could never shrink the `Cats advantage to single figures as Langhorne made another pair at the line and Allison hit another three.

Naylor added 11 points while Langhorne scored eight, had six rebounds, five assists and a steal. He also blocked a shot. Jones scored 12 points to lead Alcorn State.

The Braves were just 16-of-55 from the field, including 5-of-20 from three-point range.