SAN MARCOS, Texas – A short trip down I-35 on Saturday will see the Texas State men's basketball team (6-1) battle rival UTSA (2-5) at 3 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
 
The Bobcats enter the game off to their best start since the 1980-81 season. All six of their wins have been by at least 10 points and are coming off a 74-60 victory over Rice on Wednesday.
 
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
TXST is led by head coach Danny Kaspar, who is in his sixth season in San Marcos and has an 80-89 record at the school He ranks among the Top 23 NCAA Division I active head coaches with 545 career victories.
 
Coming into the game, the Bobcats are 13^th nationally in scoring defense (57.7), 13^th in assists per game (18.4), 17^th in field goal percentage defense (37.0), 25^th in rebounding margin (+8.9) and 29^th in scoring margin (+18.6).
 
They are led by Nijal Pearson, who is the reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week and College Sports Madness Mid-Major Player of the Week. He is averaging 21.0 points per game and leads the conference with 55 made field goals, 25 made three-pointers and 53.2 three-point field goal percentage.
 
Contributing 11.4 ppg with 15 made three-pointers is Tre'Larenz Nottingham. Alex Peacock (7.6) and Jaylen Shead (4.6) lead the team in rebounding and assists, respectively.
 
ABOUT UTSA
The Roadrunners have played their previous five games on the road. After starting the season with five consecutive losses, they have won two straight coming into Saturday. Steve Henson is in his third season in charge of the program and has a record of 36-39.
 
Three players are averaging in double-figures led by Keaton Wallace at 17.4 ppg. Jhivvan Jackson missed the first three games while still recovering from an ACL injury and enters the rivalry contest putting gup 15.5 ppg in just 16.5 minutes a contest. Nick Allen is contributing 10.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
 
Bryon Frohnen paces UTSA in rebounding (7.4), steals (14) and field goal percentage (54.9). Running the offense is Giovanni de Nicolao, who is dishing out 3.4 apg.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday will be the 60^th meeting between the two programs that UTSA leads 35-24. The Roadrunners have won two straight and four of the last five. Last season saw them win 79-78 in Strahan Arena after outscoring Texas State 12-4 over the final 42 seconds.
 
The Bobcats are 11-15 all-time when playing UTSA on the road. The last road win over the Roadrunners came on Jan. 19, 2013 by the score of 81-78 in overtime when both programs were members of the WAC.
 
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.