SAN MARCOS, Texas – Four players scored in double figures to lead the Texas State men's basketball team to a 74-71 victory over Appalachian State Thursday night in Strahan Arena.
 
The win improves Texas State's record to 18-5 overall and 7-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. The loss drops Appalachian State to 9-15 overall, 3-7 in league play.
 
Nijal Pearson led Texas State with 19 points in front of a crowd of 4,517. Tre'Larenz Nottingham and Jaylen Shead complimented Pearson's effort with 18 and 15 points, respectfully. Alonzo Sule came off the bench to add 10 points for the Bobcats.
 
Appalachian State's Ronshad Shabazz led all scorers with 23 points. Meanwhile, guard Adrian Delph and Justin Forrest contributed 10 points apiece for the Mountaineers.
 
After the two teams fought to a 38-38 tie in the first half, Appalachian State jumped out to a six-point lead, 46-40, on Isaac Johnson's layup. The Mountaineers led most of the second half before Alex Peacock scored a layup to give Texas State a 63-62 lead with 5:06 left to play. The Bobcats never trailed again.
 
Texas State increased its lead to six when Shead stole a pass and drove down for a dunk shot and Pearson nailed a three-point shot from the left wing to give the Bobcats a 68-62 advantage.
 
The Mountaineers closed to within two points, 70-68, with 1:26 left to play, but Pearson answered with a jumper in the lane and Shead scored a fast-break layup following a blocked shot by Eric Terry to give the Bobcats a 74-68 lead with 25 seconds left.
 
The win moves Texas State back into a first-place tie in league standing with UT Arlington and Georgia State. The Bobcats return action Saturday at 4 p.m. in Strahan Arena when they play Coastal Carolina.