Jan. 10, 2008

Final Stats

Natchitoches, La. - A fresh start was spoiled for the Texas State Bobcats as they fell to Northwestern State 95-84 in Natchitoches, La. Thursday in its Southland Conference opener. Brent Benson and Corey Jefferson each posted 18 points for the team high mark.

Three points by Texas State were the first on the board in Louisiana and Matt Fullenwider gave Texas State its dawn into double figures with a drop underneath the basket for a 10-5 Bobcat lead. Northwestern State fought its way back with a 5-0 run over Texas State to spoil any chance of a runaway bout. Hot off the perimeter, senior shooters Brent Holder and Fullenwider hit back-to-back threes to put the `Cats back on top, 16-10.

Northwestern State's Keithan Hancock posted ten unanswered points to catch the Demons up to speed and give his squad a 28-19 lead on their home court. Texas State surged forward with a seven-point run to trim the gap, but their efforts were countered by ten devilish points.

After over three minutes of scoreless basketball from the `Cats, Jefferson knocked down a three from the corner to bring the score to 40-29. Holder hit his second three of the night at 1:36 and shortly after, Ryan White finished an NSU rip with the easy lay-in to put the `Cats within five. However, NSU dropped in the final two baskets to take the lead into half time, 47-38.

Texas State shot 42.4 percent from the field and followed through on only three of eight free throw opportunities in the first half of action. Jefferson, for the second time this season, entered the break with a perfect record, going 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc.

A stellar defensive effort by the maroon and white forced 18 NSU turnovers in the first period of regulation, including the first three Demon possessions of the game. The theme carried over in the second half with Texas State forcing ten more turnovers that translated into ten points for the squad.

At just under 17:00, Brandon Bush popped a 12 foot jumper to start a 7-0 run over Northwestern State. Brent Benson joined Bush in the effort connecting behind the charity stripe to put the `Cats within six at 14:23 with a score of 57-51.

Unfortunately, this would be the closest Texas State would come in the final period of regulation due to a fiery offense that nearly doubled the teams points in the paint, 24-42. The Bobcats wrestled for 33 boards on the court and NSU finished with just ten more rebounds. The Bobcats were .426 percent from the field in the outing, falling below the .557 mark set by the Demons.

Jefferson went 7-9 from the field and remained perfect from long range and behind the free throw line with a career-night. Fullenwider scored a season-high 11 points and shared the team-best spot with Brandon Thomas and Dylan Moseley grabbing five rebounds in the outing.

Northwestern State was led by Trey Gilder's 26-point outing. Keithan Hancock finished with 21 to aid the Demons in a 2-0 SLC start.

Texas State falls 0-1 in SLC action and to an even 7-7 overall. The team will remain on the road for a 6 p.m. tip with Central Arkansas on Saturday.