SAN MARCOS, Texas– Texas State (2-2) returns the confines of Strahan Arena with a 7 p.m. tip vs. Jackson State (0-4) Monday, Nov. 18 to open the Southwestern Showdown, a multiple team event presented by Engage Telehealth.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
ESPN+ vs. Jackson State: PXP: Brant Freeman, Analyst: Suzanne Fox
Listen vs. Jackson State: AM 1300 The Zone, 89.9 KTSW Radio, TuneIn App – Bill Culhane
Live Stats vs. Jackson State: Statbroadcast
 
SETTING THE SCENE
• The Bobcats are No. 3 in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring defense, giving up just 60.8 points, and No. 5 in scoring offense at 78.0 points per game to record a 17.2 scoring margin, a mark that leads the league.
• Texas State also leads the conference with a .494 field goal percentage, and rank in the top three in field goal defense percentage (.359, No. 2), and 3-point field goal defense percentage (.305, No. 4).
• Texas State is 2-2 this season after a tight battle at No. 24 Baylor, 72-63. The Bobcats shot .426 from the floor, .353 percent from 3-point range, and .714 percent from the free throw line in the loss.
• The Bobcat defense held the Bears to a 6-of-23 performance from downtown. Despite outrebounding the nationally ranked team on the defensive glass 22-18, the Bears held the advantage offensively 16-9 and edged the Cats overall 34-31.  
• Senior guard Nijal Pearson averages 19.0 points per game which ranks fourth in the Sun Belt. Pearson shoots .500 from the floor (T-No. 10) and .450 from 3-point range (No. 7).
• In his second appearance this season, sophomore guard Caleb Asberry scored 12 points to bring his average to 10.0 points per game.
• Junior guard Marlin Davis is not too far off with 9.5 points per game and Davis leads the Sun Belt with 12 total steals. Sophomore guard Mason Harrell adds 9.9 points per game on a .560 shooting percentage.
• Junior forward Isiah Small leads the Sun Belt with 9.0 rebounds per game after grabbing a season-high 12 at No. 24 Baylor. Small and adds 6.8 points per game shooting .520 from the field (13-of-25).
 
PEARSON RECORD TRACKER / NOTABLES
• Pearson scored 20 points at No. 24 Baylor and now has 1,597 career points. It was Pearson's second consecutive 20-plus scoring performance this season and the 19th of his career. Pearson needs 26 more to past Donte Mathis (1995-99, 1,622 points) to move to No. 3 on the all-time scoring list.
• The Beaumont, Texas native now has 142 career steals, ranking No. 5 in school history. Ryan White (2007-11) is at No. 4 with 154 career steals.
• Pearson was named to the Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List on Nov. 5. Pearson appeared on the Lou Henson Mid-Season Watch List last year. He was also picked as the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in a couple of publications including the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and Street & Smith's.
• Pearson was tabbed to the 2019-20 Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team by the Sun Belt Conference after garnering All-Sun Belt First Team honors in the 2018-19 season.
 
SCOUTING JACKSON STATE
• Jackson State is 0-4 entering Monday's game with all four of its contests played on the road. The Tigers are coming off an 80-63 loss vs. SMU.
• Averaging 68.5 points, JSU has a -17.5 scoring margin as they relinquish 86.0 points per game to its opponents. JSU has lost by 20 or more points in three of its four games this season.   
• The Tigers have a .393 field goal percentage, .295 3-point field goal percentage, and a .719 free throw percentage this season. The team also averages 30.0 rebounds and 8.0 steals per game.
• Junior Tristan Jarrett leads the Tigers with 19.5 points per game and seven total steals. Sophomore Jayveous McKinnis follows with 11.5 points per game and leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per game and nine total blocks.
• Both Jarrett (23) and McKinnis turned in season-high scoring performances (19), Mckinnis had his first double-double of the season after adding 10 rebounds and led the team with three blocks at SMU.   
 
SERIES HISTORY
• Monday will be the first meeting between Texas State and Jackson State.
 
UP NEXT
• Texas State continues play in the Southwestern Showdown with a 9 p.m. CT matchup Nov. 20 vs. UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Bobcats end the multiple team event with a pair of home games Nov. 25 (Abilene Christian) and Nov. 30 (Hartford).
 
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are now available for purchase through the Texas State online ticket center website. Prices for season tickets will depend upon seating location. General admission season tickets will be available for as low as $99 and lower reserved seating options will start at $130. Any questions regarding 2019-20 Texas State men's basketball season tickets can be addressed to the Texas State Athletics Ticket Office at 512-245-2272 or via email at gametickets@txstate.edu.
 
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