SAN MARCOS, Texas - The Texas State men's basketball team used timely three-point shooting in both halves as the Bobcats defeated Denver, 71-58, for their fifth straight victory on Sunday afternoon in Strahan Arena.
 
Dylan Dawson came off the bench to nail three treys and scored all nine of his points in the first half. His nine points ignited a 13-0 run that gave the Bobcats a 19-10 lead, and Texas State never trailed again in the game.
 
Denver closed to 35-30 within the first minute of the second half before Shelby Adams made a pair of three-point baskets to start an 18-5 rally that gave the Bobcats a 53-33 lead.
 
After the Pioneers used an 11-3 run to pull to within 56-44, Texas State outscored Denver 16-10 in the next six minutes to extend its lead to 71-51. Denver scored the final seven points in the game to make the final score 71-58.
 
Adams scored a season-high 14 points to lead the Bobcats, who improved their record to 6-2 this season. Mason Harrell finished with 13 points and a season-high five assists. Isiah Small tallied 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
 
KJ Hunt scored 14 points to lead Denver, while Jordan Johnson added 12 and Michael Henn netted 11 points for the Pioneers, who fell to 3-7 this season.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Denver jumped out to a 10-6 lead before Dawson made his three treys and ignited Texas State's rally that gave the Bobcats a 19-10 lead with 12:31 left to play in the first half.
 
After Denver scored five straight points, Tyrel Morgan and Nate Martin made a layup to extend the lead to 23-15. Texas State would go on to lead 35-28 at halftime.
 
KJ Hunt scored the first points in the second half to pull Denver back to within five points, 35-30. However, Texas State used an 18-3 run to regain a 53-33 advantage with 14:31 left to play.
 
Adams began the run with his two three-point field goals. Then, after Mason Harrell drove through the lane for a left-handed layup, Isiah Small added three points the old-fashioned way with a layup and free throw. Next, Caleb Asberry made a layup, and Adams closed out the run with another layup.
 
The Pioneers closed to within 53-39 when Hunt, Michael Henn, and Jordan Johnson netted layups.
 
However, Martin made three of his four free throws on Texas State's next two possessions to extend the lead to 56-41.
 
Drue Drinnon's layup gave Texas State another 20-point advantage, 71-51 with 3:48 left to play. The Pioneers netted the final seven points in the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Shelby Adams scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season after netting 14 points against Denver and 13 at Rice.
 
Mason Harrell scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and handed out a season-high five assists against Denver.
 
While the Pioneers had a 32-30 advantage with points in the paint, the Bobcats outscored them 17-4 on second-chance points.
 
Texas State had a 28-17  advantage in points off turnovers after forcing 22 turnovers by the Pioneers. The 22 turnovers equal the most by a Bobcat opponent this season. The Bobcats also forced 22 turnovers by Dixie State. The 22 turnovers by Denver mark the fifth game in which the Bobcats have forced 20-or-more turnovers on defense.
 
NEXT GAME
Texas State will not play again until Sunday, Dec. 12, when the Bobcats host the Southwestern University Pirates in Strahan Arena at 4 p.m. The Southwestern game is the first of three contests in six days. The Bobcats play home games against Lamar on Dec. 15 and Paul Quinn on Dec. 18.