Jan. 12, 2005

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Anthony Dill scored 17 points and Josh Naylor finished with 16 as Texas State posted a 72-58 win over Nicholls State in the Bobcats' home conference opener Wednesday.

Texas State (7-7, 1-2 in the SLC) was sparked by an 18-2 run to start the second period. Zach Allison knocked down a pair of three-pointers to key the rally as the `Cats came back from a 26-23 deficit at the break.

Nicholls State (5-9, 0-3) took its biggest lead of the game when Dominique Geason got free for a dunk to give the Colonels a 26-20 lead with 15 seconds to play in the first half. But Allison cut that lead in half with a three-pointer with four seconds left in the period.

Dill, who was 8-for-9 from the field, began the second period with a layin then Naylor drilled a three-pointer to give Texas State a 28-26 lead with 18:55 to play. Dill went on to score on a short jumper and Markee White added a layin as the Bobcats scored the first nine points of the period.

Allison finished with 11 points, including a 3-for-4 performance from three-point range. Preseason All-Southland Conference First-Team pick Willie Depron scored 16 points to go with five assists and three steals to lead Nicholls State. Geason and Stefan Blaszczynski each added 10 points for the Colonels.

Texas shot a blistering 58 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting an even 50 percent. The Bobcats also made 11-of-13 free throw attempts.

Wednesday's win marked the fourth time this season Texas State has come back from a halftime deficit to win.

Texas State returns to action Saturday when the Bobcats hit the road again to take on Louisiana-Monroe. The game will mark the 'Cats sixth in their last eight on the road.