Feb. 13, 2008

Final Stats

Lake Charles, La. - Brent Benson led the Texas State Bobcats with a career-high 28 points, but even that mark could not stop the McNeese State Cowboys from grabbing its third Southland victory Wednesday night as they took an 81-77 win over the `Cats at Burton Coliseum.

The Bobcats fall to 4-6 in league play and 11-12 overall, while the Cowboys improve to 9-12 on the season.

The first half of play saw eight ties and five lead changes and a scoreboard that showed just as equal. As the first few minutes ticked off the clock, Texas State was in a cat and mouse game with McNeese State, answering point for point. Beginning at 15:48, the Cowboys bypassed the two-point increase with a downtown three-pointer from Rorey Lawrence. Brandon Bush answered for his first points of the game at the top of the key for a 7-7 game.

Back and forth action went on, highlighted at 6:15 when Jonathan Sloan went head-to-head with 6-11, 285 Kleon Penn on a one-handed drive to the basket for two points. Then, at 4:05, McNeese State took its largest lead of the half on two free throws from John Ford, 31-25.

With the `Cats close to grabbing the lead into the break, the Pokes slowed down the pace of the game and Lawrence fired the final shot with just three seconds left on the clock for a 39-34 McNeese State lead into the break.

At the half, Texas State was just 36 percent from the field and 73 percent from the stripe. The Cowboys barely surpassed the mark shooting 38 percent from field, but only 70 percent at the free throw line.

Jonathan Sloan grabbed seven rebounds in the half for the high mark, while the team finished with 23, two above the Cowboys.

The Bobcats played the east-foe fairly tight in the first period, seeing eight ties and five lead changes, but could not shake a five-point hump in the start of the final period. Benson fired off six quick points for Texas State, vying to bring the Bobcats out of the deficit, but John Pichon of McNeese State wanted to write his own story book ending. The junior put up 22 points in the half to lead his team for the night.

At 2:38, a three-man swing at the top of key put the ball in the hands of Benson, who found the net for three points bringing the `Cats within range 74-70. The Cowboys were unsuccessful on their next possession and Bush finished off the Bobcats attempt as he muscled his way to the basket with a lay-up for a two-point game.

Brandon Thomas picked up his second foul of the game on the next play to send Pichon to the line for one and one. Down by three points, the `Cats passed up a number of open looks in the field, looking for the tying three ball. The Pokes went to the stripe twice more (80-72) before Texas State had a chance to score, and with 29 seconds left Brent Holder came off the bench to drain three points for a five-point game. Ten seconds later, Matt Fullenwider hit a 12 foot jumper for the Bobcats last field goal of the game.

Texas State ended on just 36 percent shooting from the field, their third 30 percent shooting effort in the past two weeks of action. McNeese finished with 44 percent. The Bobcats were 14-21 from the line in the game, while the Cowboys ended on 24-38.

The `Cats topped the rebound column with 48 to MCN's 42 and managed to grab seven steals to the foe's five. For the game, Texas State was whistled for 28 fouls to McNeese's 15.

Benson went 6-17 from the field and hit five three-pointers to aid his career night. The guard missed just two of his 13 free throws in the contest. Holder ended with 12 points and Sloan recorded ten rebounds to lead Texas State on the boards.

Pichon led the Cowboys with 26 points and ten rebounds and Penn recorded 13 rebounds and eight blocks for McNeese's high mark. As a team, Texas State finished with two blocks.

Texas State will head back to Strahan Coliseum to host the Lamar Cardinals. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Network - Southwest and is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. tip.