MONROE, La. – Senior guard
Nijal Pearson becomes the all-time leading scorer for Texas State (11-8, 4-4 Sun Belt) after dropping a game-high 23 points, including the team's final four to fight its way to a 64-63 win over ULM (6-11, 2-6 Sun Belt) Thursday night at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The win gives the Bobcats their third-straight and are now at .500 in conference play after their 1-4 start. Texas State also snapped a two-game losing streak in head-to-head meetings vs. ULM. ULM still leads the all-time series 30-24.
The Bobcats trailed for most of the contest but used an 11-0 run to take a 53-51 lead capped by a jumper from sophomore guard
Caleb Asberry with 6:39 left to play. After the final media timeout of the game, ULM's senior forward Tyree White nailed a triple to put ULM on top 60-58, but Asberry hit again to tie the score at 60 with 2:52 on the clock. The Warhawks went 3-of-4 at the free-throw line to gain a 63-60 advantage, but Pearson drained a 3-pointer, his second of the night to knot the score at 63 with one-minute left. The defense stepped up for the visiting team as senior forward
Eric Terry got a steal on the Warhawks' next possession and a foul sent Pearson to the free-throw line where he made the game-winning basket. Pearson missed the second free-throw with 10 seconds remaining and although ULM got one more shot up that did go in, the time had already expired, and Texas State walked away with the victory.
Pearson entered the game needing just nine points to pass former Bobcat legend Charles Sharp (1956-60) and he picked up all nine of those points in the first half, ending the first 20 minutes with 1,885 career-points. Pearson continued his trend of second-half dominance and scored 14 points in the final 20 minutes to bring his career total to 1,899 points. Pearson led all players with seven rebounds and also recorded two assists and one steal. Sophomore forward
Alonzo Sule finished with 10 points to conclude the double-digit scorers for Texas State.
White led ULM with 16 points and six rebounds followed by 15 points each from senior guard JD Williams and junior guard Michael Ertel. Williams had three rebounds, three assists, and one block, while Ertel had a game-high six assists to go along with two rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Bobcats shot 28.0 percent from the floor, including a 0-of-7 performance from behind-the-arc yet went into halftime trailing by just eight points at 33-25, largely due to a 91.7 free-throw percentage (11-of-12). Pearson led the Bobcats with nine points to become the program's all-time leading scorer and had three rebounds, Sule followed with eight points. ULM shot 53.8 percent from the floor and was 4-of-9 from 3-point range. ULM's Williams led all scorers with 10 points and also had three rebounds, and Ertle ended the half with nine points and three assists.
Second Half
Texas State opened the half on a 9-4 run, but ULM responded with a 9-2 burst capped off by a triple from Williams to put the home team ahead 46-36 with 13:19 on the clock. ULM continued to hold its lead for most of the half until the Bobcats used an 11-0 run to grab ahold of a 53-51 advantage, their first lead since the 12:11 mark of the first half. Both clubs exchanged baskets the rest of the way and Pearson came through with a triple from the top of the key to tie the game at 63 and hit a free-throw on the next possession to essentially seal the game.
GAME NOTES
• Texas State won the rebounding battle 32-31 and dominated the offensive glass 12-6 which led to an impressive 17-3 margin in second-chance points. The Bobcats are 8-1 this season when outrebounding their opponent.
• The Bobcats improve to 3-1 in league play when holding opponents between 60-69 points.
• Texas State logged a season-low six turnovers.
• TXST outscored ULM 11-0 in fast-break points.
• TXST shot 37.5 percent from the field (21-of-56), 20.0 percent from 3-point range (3-of-15) and 82.6 percent from the free-throw line (19-of-23).
• It is the sixth time this season that Texas State has shot 80.0 percent or better at the charity stripe.
• ULM shot 49.0 percent from the floor (24-of-49), 38.9 percent from 3-point range (7-of-18) and 72.7 percent from the free-throw line.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Pearson matches
Kavin Gilder-Tilbury's record of 19 consecutive games scoring in double figures.
• Pearson has scored 20 or more points in six consecutive games, 10 times total this season, and 27 times total in his career.
• Sule has scored 10 points or more in seven games this season.
• Harrell has handed out five or more assists in five games this season.
• It was Small's fifth multi-block game this season.
QUOTES
Head coach Danny Kaspar's on the win and the Pearson's record-breaking night…
"I am really happy and excited about where the team is right now. Not only did we have a comeback win on the road, but Nijal [Pearson] was also able to break the scoring record. It was a great night for many different reasons and winning on the road, particularly in this fashion is very satisfying."
Senior guard Nijal Pearson on what it means to be the new scoring leader for the program…
"This means everything to me. It is big time. To see where I came from to where I am now is an amazing journey. It's been fun and full of ups-and-downs, but it means the world to me that I made a name for myself at Texas State. I am not finished though. There is much more to come so if you are a
Nijal Pearson fan or follower, just know this will not be the last thing that I will do. All glory to God and this is for everyone who believed in me and gave me a chance and rooted me on. I love all my family, friends, and fans. This is bigger than me."
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will conclude their trip with a 7 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 18 vs. Louisiana at the CajunDome in Lafayette, La.
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