Dec. 13, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Texas State sophomore guard Brandon Bush scored 21 points while Antwon Williams pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds as the Bobcats defeated Texas-Permian Basin 102-92 Wednesday.

The win avenged a 75-69 UTPB win in the series last year as the Bobcats improved to 4-5 on the year. UTPB is now 2-5.

Texas State jumped out to a 21-4 lead before the Falcons mounted a comeback in the half to cut the margin to single digits. A 14-2 run late in the half stretched the Bobcats' lead to 49-31 and they enjoyed a 49-34 advantage at the break.

Texas-Permian Basin would score the first eight points of the second half to again cut the Bobcats' lead. A three-pointer by Nedrie Simmons would pull the Falcons to within seven, 49-42 with 17:05 to play. Texas State point guard George Kiel would end the rally with a pull-up jumper from the wing to stretch the Bobcats' lead to 51-42 with 16:28 to play.

But UTPB was able to take advantage of Texas State's sluggish performance from the free throw line and shoot 58 percent from the field in the second period in erasing the Bobcats' second-half lead completely.

Texas State converted on just 22-of-41 second-half free throws (54 percent). From the 13 minute mark to just over four minutes to play, the Bobcats converted on 5-of-15 free throws. During the same stretch of time, UTPB went from being down by 10 points to actually holding a 79-78 lead when the Falcons' Brett Brittain rebounded a missed free throw and Demtrius Davis answered at the other end with a jumper.

But the Bobcats would retake the lead for good on their next possession.

Brent Holder was fouled while drilling a three-pointer by Jerrod Dsastrup. After a media timeout, Holder would make the ensuing free throw and Texas State's lead was 82-79 with 3:48 to play. The four-point play sparked a nine-point run by the `Cats and included a three-pointer by Matt Fullenwider to make the score 87-79.

Wednesday's game featured 60 total fouls as four players - two from each team - fouled out. There were also 38 total turnovers with Texas State converting the Falcons' 21 miscues into 31 points.

Fullenwider added 15 points for the Bobcats while Chris Agwumaro scored 11 and Brandon Thomas finished with 10.

Texas-Permian Basin shot 50 percent from the field for the game and connected on 9-of-21 three-pointers. Mansour Mbye came off the bench to lead UTPB with 23 points and 13 rebounds. He also had three assists, a steal and a block. Simmons added 18 points while Dsastrup was 4-for-8 from three-point range as he chipped in 17 for the Falcons.

Texas State returns to action Saturday when the Bobcats travel to Texas. UTPB plays at Tarleton State Dec. 18th in its next outing.