SAN MARCOS, Texas – A shorthanded Texas State men's basketball team fell 78-63 Thursday night to Troy in Strahan Arena in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both programs.
 
The Bobcats are now 9-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play while the Trojans improve to 10-4 on the season and 1-0 in the Sun Belt.
 
Caleb Asberry knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the arc to open the contest's scoring. A putback layup by Nighael Ceaser with 15:11 remaining gave TXST a 7-9 advantage. Troy then went on a 13-3 run to take the lead and hold it for the rest of the game.
 
A trey courtesy of Dylan Dawson and an Isiah Small layup cut the deficit to three, the closest the Bobcats would get, with just over seven minutes left in the first half.
 
Twice Texas State got within seven in the final stanza. The first came with just under 13 minutes on the clock on a layup by Nate Martin and the second time occurred 30 seconds later after an Asberry layup.
 
Small led the Bobcats with 17 points and eight rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. He also recorded two assists and steals. Ceaser added 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and converted all four of his free throw attempts while grabbing seven boards and blocking two shots.
 
Also reaching double-figures was Asberry with 14 points as he played all 40 minutes. The Pflugerville, Texas native dished out six assists and matched his career-high with four steals.
 
Next up for TXST is a meeting with South Alabama on Saturday. Tip is slated for 4 p.m. inside Strahan Arena.
 
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