NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – After a rough first half, the Texas State men's basketball team put together a strong final 20 minutes to defeat Eastern Washington 81-74 in the Good Sam Empire Classic title game held at The Matadome.
 
With the victory, the Bobcats improve to 3-2 on the season while the Eagles drop to 2-3.
 
EWU opened the game with three straight three-pointers before a floater in the paint from Shelby Adams put the Bobcats on the board. A 6-0 run that ended with an Isiah Small layup cut the deficit to 14-10.
 
However, the Eagles scored the next seven points to take its biggest advantage at 11 with 9:39 left in the opening half. Mason Harrell answered with a corner three to end the scoring drought.
 
The Bobcats trailed by 24-15 but went on an 8-0 run with half of the points coming at the free throw line to cut the deficit to one. After the Eagles extended their advantage to four, Small hit a jumper to make it a 27-25 contest. EWU would score the final six points of the half to take an eight-point advantage into the break.
 
Caleb Asberry knocked down three triples within the first four minutes of the second stanza. His third trey sparked a 22-6 onslaught that was capped off by a made free throw courtesy of Nighael Ceaser to put TXST in front 55-46 with 11:33 left in the second half.
 
The Eagles would get as close as three but the Bobcats extended their advantage to double digits with most being 13 after a charity stripe conversion by Small with just over a minute left in the contest.
 
Asberry led the Bobcats with 18 points on 4-of-7 shooting with all of his made field goals coming from beyond the arc and was a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. He also dished out two assists, recorded two steals and blocked a shot.
 
Harrell added 17 points that saw him go 9-for-11 at the free throw line. Small netted 14 points and led the team with eight rebounds and three steals. Also cracking double-figures was Ceaser with 13 points as he made 6-of-7 field goals off the bench while retrieving seven boards.
 
With their performances over the weekend, Asberry was named the tournament's MVP and Small was selected to the all-tournament team.
 
Next up for TXST is its home opener on Wednesday against LeTourneau. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Strahan Arena in the University Events Center.