SAN MARCOS, Texas– Texas State will play its final road game of the season at Arkansas State at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22 at the First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro, Ark.
The Bobcats (15-6, 9-3 Sun Belt) will finally play the Red Wolves (10-9, 7-5 Sun Belt) after a total of five postponements or cancellations this season between the two teams. TXST enters the weekend leading the Sun Belt Conference standings with a 9-3 mark and is ranked No. 18 in the latest CIT Mid-Major poll. The Bobcats enter Tuesday's game on a four-game winning streak and have won six consecutive Sun Belt Conference road games. TXST's strength is its defense that leads the Sun Belt with a scoring defense of 62.3 points per game, ranking No. 17 in Division I basketball. In addition to their scoring defense, the Bobcats rank inside the top 100 of the NCAA in five defensive categories, including forcing 15.5 turnovers per game (No. 50 in the NCAA and No. 2 in the Sun Belt). Offensively, TXST averages 66.8 points per game behind a 46.7 field goal percentage, ranking No. 53 in the NCAA and No. 4 in the conference. They also rank No. 31 in the country with a 37.9 3-point field goal percentage.
In league play, Texas State is 6-1 on the road and is shooting 49.9 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from 3-point range. The Bobcats are also averaging 15.6 assists, 6.4 steals and are forcing 15.3 turnovers per game.
Junior guard Mason Harrell leads the Bobcats with 13.6 points per game (No. 12 in the Sun Belt) behind a 46.2 field goal percentage, including a 41.7 3-point field goal percentage (No. 9 in the Sun Belt). Harrell is also shooting 80.0 percent from the free-throw line (T-No. 6 in the Sun Belt) and contributes 3.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Junior guard Caleb Asberry follows with 13.2 points per game (No. 14 in the Sun Belt) and is shooting 50.5 percent from the field (No. 91 in the NCAA and No. 12 in the Sun Belt). Asberry also has a .424 clip from behind-the-arc (No. 7 in the Sun Belt). In conference play, Asberry averages 13.6 points per game and is coming off his fifth 20-point performance this season after scorching UT Arlington for 20 points on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Strahan Arena.
Senior forward Isiah Small averages 10.6 points per game and leads the Bobcats with 5.9 rebounds (No. 14 in the Sun Belt) and 1.2 blocks per game (No. 6 in the Sun Belt). Small also ranks No. 92 in the NCAA with 26 total blocks and No. 6 in the Sun Belt with a 56.4 field goal percentage. The New Jersey native leads the team with 14.1 points per game and shoots 66.1 percent from the floor and 76.9 percent from 3-point range in conference road games this season. Although at home, Small is coming off a 21-point, 11-rebound performance against the Mavericks last weekend.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE
The Red Wolves are on a four-game winning streak of their own and hold a 9-2 record at home this season. A-State is 1-7 on the road, but will not play in front of Bobcat Nation this year after last weekend's games were canceled due to the historic winter storm in Texas. Arkansas State ranks No. 3 in the Sun Belt, averaging 75.4 points per game, but gives up 70.7 points on average to its opponent. The Red Wolves are shooting 46.0 percent from the floor (No. 5 in the Sun Belt), lead the conference with a 39.9 3-point field goal percentage, and average 14.7 assists per game (No. 3 in the Sun Belt).
Senior guard Marquis Eaton pace the team with 13.8 points (No. 10 in the Sun Belt) and 5.1 assists per game (No. 2 in the Sun Belt). Freshman forward Norchad Omier averages a double-double with 12.4 points (No. 17 in the Sun Belt) and a league-best 11.5 rebounds per game. Omier also averages 1.6 blocks per game which rank No. 4 in the Sun Belt. Sophomore guard Caleb Fields rounds out the top scorers with 11.7 points and his 3.6 assists rank No. 6 in the Sun Belt.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Texas State leads Arkansas State in the all-time series 9-3 and has won nine consecutive games in the series after dropping the first three. The Bobcats are 4-2 when playing in Jonesboro, Ark.
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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