DENVER, Colo. – After trailing the entire first half, Texas State stormed back in the second half, powered by junior guard Caleb Asberry's career-high 28 points, and defeated Denver 70-68 to open The Pioneer Challenge Saturday afternoon at the Hamilton Gymnasium.  

The Bobcats (5-3) overcame a 21-point deficit and found themselves down by 19 points at halftime to pick up their second consecutive win. Texas State grabbed its first lead of the game at 61-58 thanks to a corner 3-pointer from Asberry with 4:30 left to play in the game. Although the game was tied on three more occasions, junior guard Mason Harrell sealed it with his second consecutive game-winning jumper. The Pioneers (1-5) who shot over 68.0 percent from the floor in the first half, were held in check in the final 20 minutes to a 33.3 field goal percentage. TXST finished the game shooting 51.0 percent from the floor (25-of-49) and 58.3 percent from behind-the-arc (7-of-12).

"Adversity does not build character, it reveals it," said interim head coach Terrence Johnson. "Denver is a talented well coached offensive team and Coach Billups had his guys ready from the tip. We got off to a slow start, but the guys got together at halftime and committed to playing one possession at a time as hard as they could. I am proud of the grit we showed. We got better today in every way but still have a ways to go."

Asberry's career-game featured shooting 10-of-15 from the floor (66.7) and matched his career-bests of four made 3-pointers set earlier this season and four steals. He also registered two assists and two rebounds. Harrell followed with 15 points and had three steals, and junior forward Alonzo Sule rounded out the top scorers with 10 points (5-of-6) and had three rebounds and one block.

Junior guard Jase Townsend recorded 22 points (7-of-16) and had four rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while freshman forward Sam Hines Jr. finished with 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Hines Jr. was also 7-of-8 at the free-throw line.

FIRST HALF
Denver led the entire first half and started early with a 15-7 lead by the 12:26 mark behind an 8-0 run to force Texas State's first timeout. The home team then expanded its margin to double-digits after Townsend knocked down a 3-pointer to make the count 24-12 with 7:41 on the clock. Harrell stopped the Pioneer run with his second 3-pointer of the game, but DU responded with another burst and ended the half with an 18-8 margin to go into the locker room with a 42-23 lead. The Pioneers offense shot 68.2 percent from the floor (15-of-22), including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. The Bobcats struggled offensively with a 34.8 field goal percentage (8-of-23) and were led by Harrell's seven points. Townsend led all players with 15 points. 

SECOND HALF
The Bobcats outscored the Pioneers 10-4 by the first media timeout and proceeded to chip away at the lead, putting together a 9-0 run highlighted by Asberry's triple to make it a 3-point game, 52-49, with under 10 minutes left in the game. Texas State tied the game at 56 after a 3-pointer from Small, but Townsend's layup put the Pioneers ahead 58-56 with 6:48 left to play. After a pair of free-throws by Harrell tied the game at 58, Asberry connects from the corner, giving the Bobcats their first lead of the game at 61-58 and TXST immediately calls timeout with 4:29 remaining in the game. From there, the teams tied on three different occasions but knotted at 68, Harrell hits an elbow pull-up to give the Bobcats a 70-68 lead with 10 seconds on the clock that ultimately won the game.  

NOTABLES
• Texas State has shot over 50.0 percent from the field three times this season and shot over 50.0 percent from 3-point range twice. Both including this victory. TXST is 3-0 when shooting over 50.0 percent from the field. 
• TXST set a new season-high with seven made 3-pointers.
• Was the Bobcats' first victory this season when the bench was outscored (16-6) and when being outrebounded by their opponent (23-21).
• Texas State led for approximately 11.4 percent of the game (4:33) and its largest lead of the game was three points, 63-60.
• The Bobcats forced a season-high 23 turnovers and scored 23 points off those turnovers.
• Was Caleb Asberry's first career-game scoring 20 or more points. He is the first Bobcat to have a 20-point game this year.
• Asberry scored 22 points in the second half. 
• The last player to make 10 or more field goals in a game was Eric Terry when he was 12-of-17 in the triple-overtime win at UT Arlington (Feb. 28, 2020).
• Mason Harrell has scored in double figures in all eight games this season.
• Alonzo Sule turned in his 20th career-game scoring 10 or more points. 
• Senior forward Isiah Small finished with five points but led the team with three assists, three rebounds, and two blocks. He also had two steals.

UP NEXT
Texas State will conclude its non-conference schedule with a 2 p.m. game vs. Northern Arizona on Monday, Dec. 21 at Hamilton Gymnasium.

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