Jan. 22, 2005

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Texas State junior guard Brad Brickens scored 16 points while Josh Naylor finished with 15 as Texas State defeated Sam Houston State 66-54 Saturday in Strahan Coliseum.

Texas State improved to 9-8 and evened its Southland Conference record to 3-3 with the win while Sam Houston State dropped to 9-8 and 3-2 in the SLC.

Brickens and Naylor combined to knock down 13-of-14 free throws in the second period as the Bobcats' shot 91 percent from the line for the game.

Texas State was up 26-24 at the intermission, marking the first time in 10 games the Bobcats had led at the break. But Sam Houston came back to lead by as many as five, 39-34 with 14:47 to play. Texas State then went on a 10-0 run culminating in junior forward Markee White's three-pointer with 10:35 to play to give the `Cats a 44-39 lead.

Beginning with a three-point play by Brickens at the 5:23 mark, Texas State would make 13 straight free throws en route to the win. Brickens' fastbreak layup would be the Bobcats' last field goal of the game.

White scored 14 points while Zach Allison finished with 11 in Texas State's win. Sam Houston State was led by Aaron Wade who scored 12 points off the bench. Eddy Fobbs and Chris Jordan each finished with 10 points for the Bearkats.

Texas State returns to action next Thursday when the Bobcats begin a two-game swing at Southeastern Louisiana. Sam Houston State returns home to take on Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday.