SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men's basketball team never trailed as it defeated Rice (3-5) 74-60 in Strahan Arena Wednesday night. With the win, the Bobcats (6-1) are off to their best start since the 1980-81 season.
 
TXST jumped out to a 9-2 advantage just over three and a half minutes into the ballgame with Nijal Pearson knocking down two three-pointers and a layup. The Owls scored seven straight to tie the score before Alex Peacock made one of his three treys on the night.
 
Peacock's three-pointer started a 13-4 run for Texas State that lasted nearly eight minutes. Six straight points from Eric Terry right at the rim would stretch the advantage to 12 while eventually taking a 36-26 lead into halftime.
 
The Bobcats maintained a double-digit advantage for the rest of the game. They stretched the lead to as much as 22 after two free throws by Mason Harrell that capped off an 11-0 run midway through the period.
 
Pearson led all players with 25 points, his third 20-plus point performance in the last four games. He made 9-of-16 shots, was 5-for-9 from beyond the arc and converted both of his charity stripe attempts. The reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week also grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists and recorded a steal, the 104^th in his career to move into a tie for ninth in program history.
 
The Beaumont, Texas native moved up to 14^th in TXST history in scoring with his output, jumping Dameon Sansom (1993-97) and Boonie Wilening (1957-60) in the first half. Pearson walked out of the arena with 1,126 career points. He is five points from tying Gary Mullen (1965-69) for 13^th-place and 12 away from matching Rudy Davalos (1957-60) for 12^th.
 
Also reaching double-figures was Terry with 11 points, nine of which came in the first half, after making 4-of-5 from the field and going 3-for-4 on free throws. Tre'Larenz Nottingham added 10 points behind two three-pointers and retrieved six boards.
 
Leading the team with seven boards was Peacock. The senior netted nine points while also handing out three assists.
 
Jaylen Shead set a career-high with nine assists and recorded the second block of his collegiate career.
 
Off the bench, Quentin Scott scored six points, grabbed four rebounds and rejected a Rice shot attempt. Harrell finished with four points and handed out four assists in 15 minutes of action.
 
Texas State made 25-of-54 (46.3%) field goals and were 11-for-27 (40.7%) on three-point attempts. The Bobcats also converted 13-of-15 (86.7%) from the charity stripe. They also outrebounded the Owls 40-30 while holding them to 35.8 percent shooting and 29.2 percent from long distance.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a trip down I-35 to UTSA on Saturday with tip slated for 3 p.m.
 
For more information on the Texas State men's basketball team, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, like on Facebook at Texas State Men's Basketball and follow on Instagram and Twitter at @TxStateMBB.