SAN MARCOS, Texas – Junior guards Caleb Asberry and Mason Harrell combined for nine of the final 11 points for Texas State as they held off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 51-46 to complete the season-series sweep Tuesday night at Strahan Arena.    

The Bobcats (4-3) led by 12 points in the second half before the Islanders (1-6) stormed back with an 18-9 run to trim the lead to three points, 49-46. After both teams had scoreless trips, Harrell sized up his defender and nailed a step-back jumper from the elbow, leaving 22 seconds left to play, essentially winning the game. The Bobcats shot 45.7 percent from the floor (21-of-46) despite a season-low 15.4 percent (2-of-13) performance from 3-point range. TXST held the Islanders to a .395 clip from the field (17-of-43), including shooting 7-of-21 in the second half.

"I think that this last week was one of the more challenging weeks that our young men have gone through in their careers," said interim head coach Terrence Johnson. "The lesson in it is that if you trust the process and get up one more time than you lay down, you give yourself a chance. Tonight, we got up and gave ourselves a chance and I am proud of these guys. I saw what I needed to see from my guys, that they can get back up and compete."   

Asberry dropped a season-high 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting to lead the Bobcats. He also had three rebounds, and one steal. Harrell put on a show with 13 points (6-of-13), a game-high five assists, matched his career-best of five rebounds, and added two steals. Junior forward Nighael Ceaser matched his season-high 10 points (4-of-5) and had a season-best two blocks. Finally, although finishing with two points, senior forward Isiah Small recorded 11 rebounds, marking his second consecutive game and third game this season with 10 or more rebounds.  

Senior guard Nolan Bertain led all scorers with 19 points and was 3-of-4 from the behind-the-arc and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. He was followed by senior forward Perry Francois' 13 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

FIRST HALF
The Islanders came hot as they hit five of their first eight shots and lead 11-2 behind a 7-0 run to force a Bobcat timeout with 15:45 on the clock. Ceaser stopped the run out of the media timeout and the Bobcats pulled within three points behind an 8-2 run, with Ceaser scoring seven of the points. TAMUCC did not give too much ground, however, and a triple brought their lead to 18-12 at the under 12-minute media timeout. Harrell knocked down a corner 3-pointer to trim the deficit to three again, and although the Islanders responded with a 5-0 run, the Bobcats answered with 12 unanswered points and went into the locker room with a 27-25 lead. Ceaser led the team by matching his season-high of 10 points in a half (4-of-4), followed by seven points, three rebounds, and a pair of assists from Harrell.  

SECOND HALF
The Bobcats had a fast start in the second stanza, beginning with four points from Asberry to set the tone. After the Islanders made three free throws, TXST went on a 9-0 run to build a 40-28 lead with 13:41 on the clock. The Islanders fought and put together an 18-9 run to pull within three points at 49-46 with 2:18 left to play, but after empty possessions by both teams, Harrell took his man off the dribble and sunk the step-back jumper to seal the game with 22 seconds remaining.   

NOTABLES
• Texas State stopped Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on 11 of its final 12 possessions in the first half, and nine of the first 10 possessions in the second half.

• The Bobcats are 3-0 this season when leading at halftime, when outscoring their opponents' bench (TXST outscored TAMUCC's bench 13-2), and when holding their opponent under 40.0 percent shooting.

• TXST picked up its first victory when scoring between 50-59 points (1-3) and held TAMUCC to an opponent season-low 46 points. 

• The Bobcats outscored the Islanders from turnovers (26-10), in the paint (26-18), and in Fastbreak points (7-0). 

• Mason Harrell extends his streak to seven games scoring in double figures. 

• Caleb Asberry's previous season-high was 12 points at A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 28. 

• The Bobcats are now 10-10 all-time vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

UP NEXT
Texas State will head to Denver, Colo. To participate in The Pioneers Challenge Dec. 19-21. The Bobcats will take on tournament host Denver at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19 before playing Northern Arizona at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 21. Both games will be played at the Hamilton Gymnasium.

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