SAN MARCOS, Texas– Texas State concludes its non-conference schedule with two games at The Pioneer Challenge. The first game will be a 1 p.m. tip against tournament host Denver on Saturday, Dec. 19, followed by a 2 p.m. game vs. Northern Arizona on Monday, Dec. 21. Both games will be played at the Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, Colo., and both games will be streamed.
The Bobcats (4-3) will enter The Pioneer Challenge off a fresh 51-46 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, led by junior guard Caleb Asberry's 15 points and junior guard Mason Harrell's 13 points. As a unit, TXST is averaging 65.4 points per game (ppg) behind a 43.4 field goal percentage and 29.0 3-point field goal percentage. The Bobcats hold their opponents to 62.1 ppg (No. 2 in the Sun Belt) and rank No. 4 in the conference with a 40.4 field goal percentage. The team also sits at No. 5 with 4.0 blocks per game.
In addition to his scoring, Harrell leads the Bobcats with 3.3 assists per game which is 12th in the league and averages 34.4 minutes per game (No. 3 in the Sun Belt). Harrell is shooting 44.7 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from behind-the-arc, and 85.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Asberry bounced back after a stretch of challenging games, and averages 8.6 ppg on the year, while junior forward Alonzo Sule averages 8.6. Sule has a .476 clip from the floor and is shooting 89.2 percent at the free-throw line (No. 5 in the Sun Belt).
Senior forward Isiah Small averages 6.6 ppg and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game (No. 8 in the Sun Belt) and 1.6 blocks per game (No. 6 in the Sun Belt). After a double-double performance vs. Our Lady of the Lake (11 points, 11 rebounds), Small grabbed 11 more rebounds in the win vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Small is the first Bobcat to record consecutive games with 10 or more rebounds since 2017 (Immanuel King) and has eight career-games with 10 or more rebounds.
SCOUTING DENVER
The Pioneers (1-4) are on a four-game losing streak with three of them coming on their home floor. Most recently, Denver fell to Northern Colorado 83-75. DU averages 70.2 ppg. with a 45.6 field goal percentage, but relinquish 77.6 ppg to opponents this season.
Junior guard Jase Townsend leads the Pioneers with 20.8 ppg and adds 5.6 rebounds per contest. Sophomore forward Robert Jones is next with 12.4 ppg and is shooting 56.5 percent from the floor. Jones contributes 4.8 rebounds per game, and leads the team with four blocks. Junior forward Tristan Green leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game to go along with his 5.2 ppg.
SCOUTING NORTHEN ARIZONA
The Lumberjacks (0-3) are in search of its first win of the 2020-21 season. NAU have losses at Arizona (96-53), UC Riverside (74-50), and at Colorado State (91-52). The Lumberjacks average 51.7 points per game and give up 87.0 points on average. Northern Arizona opens its Big Sky Conference schedule Dec. 18-19 with games against Eastern Washington before playing the Bobcats.
Junior guard Cameron Shelton leads NAU with 15.3 ppg, six assists and five steals. Junior guard Luke Avdalovic averages 13.3 ppg and is shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from 3-point range. Freshman forward Carson Towt is the team's leading rebounder with five boards per contest.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Bobcats trail in the all-time series vs. Denver 2-1 with all three games being played in the 2012-13 season. After losing the first two games in the regular season, Texas State defeated Denver 72-68 in the WAC Tournament (March 14, 2013).
The series is tied 1-1 vs. Northern Arizona. The two teams wiil meet for the first time since 1994 and it will be the first game in the series played on a neutral floor. The Bobcats won the last game 54-43 on Dec. 4, 1994.
CHALK TALK
The Texas State men's basketball staff will be hosting Chalk Talk. Chalk Talk will be a presentation by one of the coaching staff members, followed by a meet and greet. Light refreshments will be provided. Chalk Talk will be before each non-conference home game, the UT Arlington game on Feb. 13, 2021, and all Friday home games. For more information about joining the tip-in club, call 512-245-3832.
Stay updated on everything Texas State men's basketball by following the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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