SAN MARCOS, Texas– Texas State prepares for a home-and-home slate against in-state rival UT Arlington. The first game will be a 6 p.m. tip-off on Thursday, Feb. 11 at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, followed by a 4 p.m. game on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Strahan Arena in San Marcos.
After another weekend sweep, the Bobcats (13-6, 7-3 Sun Belt) enter the weekend leading in the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings and are ranked No. 24 in the latest CIT Mid-Major poll. TXST's strength is its defense that leads the Sun Belt with a scoring defense of 62.4 points per game, ranking No. 20 in Division I basketball. The Bobcats rank inside the top 100 of the NCAA in a total of five defensive categories, including forcing 15.7 turnovers per game (No. 44 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the Sun Belt). Offensively, TXST averages 66.8 points per game behind a 46.9 field goal percentage, ranking No. 45 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the conference. They also rank No. 43 in the country with a 37.5 3-point field goal percentage.
Junior guard Mason Harrell leads the Bobcats with 13.8 points per game (No. 11 in the Sun Belt) and has scored 20 or more points twice over a three-game stretch. Harrell is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, 41.5 percent from 3-point range (No. 9 in the Sun Belt), and 83.6 percent from the free-throw line (No. 5 in the Sun Belt). Harrell also averages 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds overall and has 13.7 points per game in conference-only games.
Junior guard Caleb Asberry follows with 12.9 points per game (No. 16 in the Sun Belt) and is shooting 51.1 percent from the field, which ranks 12th in the Sun Belt. Asberry also has a .427 clip from behind-the-arc (No. 6 in the Sun Belt). In conference play, Asberry averages 13.7 points, shooting 49.9 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from 3-point range.
Senior forward Isiah Small averages 10.2 points per game and leads the Bobcats with 5.7 rebounds (No. 14 in the Sun Belt) and 1.2 blocks per game (No. 6 in the Sun Belt). Small also ranks No. 88 in the NCAA with 21 total blocks and No. 7 in the Sun Belt with a 55.6 field goal percentage. The New Jersey native leads the team with 13.8 points per game and shoots 63.2 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from 3-point range in conference games only.
SCOUTING UT ARLINGTON
The Mavericks (11-9, 7-5 Sun Belt) have won four of their last five contests, including a weekend sweep vs. ULM in Arlington, Texas last weekend. UTA has a 7-3 record at home this season and is 4-2 against Sun Belt competition on their home floor. UTA averages 74.8 points per game (No. 6 in the Sun Belt) despite ranking No. 10 in the league with a 41.1 field goal percentage. On the defensive end, UTA gives up 69.6 points (No. 8 in the Sun Belt) and ranks No. 3 in the conference with 4.5 blocks and 8.6 steals per game.
Junior guard Shahada Wells leads the Mavericks with 16.4 points (No. 4 in the Sun Belt), 3.2 assists per game (No. 12 in the Sun Belt), and 2.2 steals per game (No. 6 in the Sun Belt). Wells shoots 42.9 percent from the field, 39.0 percent from behind-the-arc, and has an 80.4 free-throw percentage (No. 7 in the Sun Belt). Sophomore guard Sam Griffin follows with 14.4 points, ranking No. 9 in the Sun Belt, behind a .387 clip from 3-point range (No. 15 in the Sun Belt).
ALL-TIME SERIES
Texas State trails UT Arlington 34-40 in the all-time series and has won just three of the last 10 meetings. The Bobcats and Mavericks split last year's season-series with TXST winning the second matchup in a classic triple-overtime 87-85 decision at UTA.
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.
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