Jan. 6, 2007

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Brandon Bush scored 25 points and Brent Holder added 19 off the bench as Texas State defeated Central Arkansas 93-80 Saturday in Strahan Coliseum.

With the win, Texas State improved to 7-8 overall and 2-0 in Southland Conference play through the first week of the league season. This is the best start to conference play for the Bobcats since the 2004 squad opened 4-0. SLC newcomer Central Arkansas is now 5-10 and 0-2.

The Bobcats survived an opponent's second-half run for the second time in as many games. Central Arkansas made just 6-of-23 first-half shots but came back from a 46-32 halftime deficit to pull within five points, 59-54 with 11:27 to play. The Bears used a 15-4 run to close the gap.

UCA's rally was bookended by three-pointers by Fred Campbell and Nate Bowie. The Bears actually had a chance to cut in to the lead further as Antwoine Blanchard missed the front end of a one-and-one and Brent Holder missed a shot. But a Bowie turnover led to a Bush layup and Holder would can a three-pointer the Bobcats' next time down the floor to widen the gap again to 10 points, 64-54 with 10:32 to play.

In addition to a 5-for-9 performance from the field, Bush was perfect at the free throw line (12-for-12). Through the first two games of SLC play, he is 25-of-28 at the free throw line. His 13-of-16 performance at the line Thursday against Northwestern State set Southland Conference season highs for free throws and free throw attempts en route to a 21-point night.

Holder was 6-for-9 from the field, knocking down 3-of-5 three-pointers. As a team, Texas State was 11-of-23 from three-point range (48 percent). Dylan Moseley made 3-of-6 three-pointers and finished with 17 points while Matt Fullenwider finished with 14 points.

Bowie scored 18 points off the bench to lead Central Arkansas. He was 4-for-8 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line.

Texas State was whistled for 28 fouls, had two players foul out and four others finish with four personals. UCA was called for a season-high 29 fouls.

After five ties and a pair of lead changes early in the game, Texas State held a 25-24 lead midway through the period following a three-pointer by UCA's Campbell.

The Bobcats would stretch out the one point lead, going on a 17-4 run to run its advantage to 42-28. The rally was capped by eight straight Texas State points. After Fullenwider drilled a three-pointer and reserve guard Gordon Taylor made 1-of-2 free throws, UCA's LeMar Phillips was called for an intentional foul on a drive by Bush.

Bush would make both free throws and the Bobcats moved the ball around to Taylor after the inbounds and the true freshman sank a three-pointer to give the Bobcats a 14-point lead.

This is the first year for divisional play in the Southland Conference. The first two weeks of conference play features the Texas-based West Division playing East Division opponents. Texas State will continue cross-division play in the league next week when it travels to south Louisiana for games against Southeastern Louisiana (Thursday) and Nicholls State (Saturday). Central Arkansas plays host to Texas-San Antonio in its first ever home SLC game next Thursday.