ARLINGTON, Texas – For the second time in three games, the Texas State men's basketball team went to overtime. This time the Bobcats took in-state rival UTA to the extra period in the College Park Center but fell 70-68 despite a career-high 24-point effort from Tre'Larenz Nottingham.
 
With the loss, TXST is now 14-12 on the season and 7-6 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Mavericks are now 16-10 overall and 7-6 in league play.

"This was a very tough loss to swallow. We had a chance to win the game but we just didn't complete the play," said head coach Danny Kaspar. "I am proud of how hard the guys fought. We came into a tough place to win in and gave them tough battle. I am concerned how four straight close losses will affect our team, but I am hoping we will bounce back that people don't expect us to win."
 
The Bobcats was in front from 40 seconds into the contest until the 6:43 mark of the second half when Kevin Hervey converted a foul-point play. Two free throws from Nottingham tied the game on the next possession. Nijal Pearson followed with a steal and found Immnauel King for a fastbreak layup to put TXST back ahead 59-57 with 6:19 to play.
 
UTA eventually took a 64-61 advantage with 2:28 showing on the clock. Tyler Blount knotted the game with his lone three-pointer of the contest. Two charity stripe shots from Nottingham extended the lead to 66-64 with just under 90 seconds to play.
 
Hervey followed with a quick layup to tie the game just seven seconds later.
 
The Bobcats had two chances to win the game in regulation. The first was when Pearson drove the lane and went up for a layup. He was hit going up but no whistled was blown and the shot was blocked with 1.8 remaining in the game.
 
On the ensuing inbound play, Nottingham through an alley-oop layup to an open Alex Peacock. The ball bounced around twice and then out just before the buzzer sounded as the game when to overtime.
 
The Mavs' Erick Neal opened the scoring in the extra period with a short jumper. Pearson came back and tied the game with a layup through contact at the 3:53 mark. Neither team was able to make a shot for the rest of the overtime stanza despite constant contact by the Mavs on shots by the Bobcats.
 
Eventually, Hervey was double-teamed with 68 seconds remaining and a whistle was blown for a foul on a Bobcat for apparently reaching and making contact. The senior converted both charity stripe shots to make it a 70-68 deficit.
 
Blount had a good look with 41 seconds remaining from near NBA-range but his shot was too strong. UTA missed a trey attempt on their next time down the court with the board grabbed by Nedeljko Prijovic. He passed the ball Nottingham while getting knocked down after retrieving the board.
 
Nottingham was able to get down the court and unleash a three-pointer from the right wing but the ball bounced off the front of the rim.
 
A free throw by UTA's Johnny Hamilton were the first points of the game. That would be the Mavs only lead of the half. Nottingham hit the first of his four three-pointers in the opening stanza and Pearson followed with a jumper on the next possession to put TXST ahead 5-1.
 
The largest advantage of the half for the Bobcats was nine after Prijovic converted a layup after UTA blocked a TXST three-point attempt.
 
Four quick points from the Mavs cut the lead to 33-32 with 47 seconds left in the period. Eric Terry grabbed an offensive board and was fouled to send him to the line for a 1-and-1. The sophomore converted both attempts for the final points of the half as the Bobcats took a three-point lead into the break.
 
Nottingham finished 7-of-19 from the field and was 6-for-14 from beyond the arc. It is the most treys by a TXST player since Kavin Gilder-Tilbury knocked down six on Mar. 3, 2016 against Troy.
 
Pearson added 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting. He just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. The sophomore also dished out a game-high three assists.
 
Coming off the bench, Terry added eight points with half coming at the free throw line.
 
Next up for the Bobcats next take on Louisiana on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. in the Cajundome.
 
For the latest on Texas State men's basketball, visit the official website of Texas State athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, follow the team on Instagram and Twitter at @TxStateMBB and like on Facebook at /TexasStateMensBasketball.