BERKELEY, Calif. – For the first time in program history, the Texas State men's basketball team defeated a Pac-12 Conference opponent with a 59-55 win over California on Monday night at the Haas Pavilion. It was also the Bobcats' first win over a Power 5 conference team since defeating Baylor on the road on Nov. 24, 1998.
With the win, TXST is now 3-2 on the season while the Bears drop to 0-5 for the first time their 115-year history.
"A hard-fought victory. I thought our guys came to play from start to finish. Obviously, that is a well-coached team and one that's gelling, sort of like we are, and finding their identity," said head coach
Terrence Johnson. "I love the fact that my team took a step in the right direction tonight.
Mason Harrell's leadership is something that we can't put a price tag on. Without him we wouldn't be in these positions, but I thought it was a complete team effort."
Mason Harrell led all players with 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting with two made three-pointers and was a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line. He also finished with two assists and one steal. Also cracking double-figures was
Brandon Davis as he netted 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half.
Tyrel Morgan fell just short of a double-double with nine points and a career best nine rebounds. Both he and
Brandon Love blocked two shots apiece. Matching his career-high was
Tuongthach Gatkek with six boards off the bench.
"I'm proud of
Tuongthach Gatkek for stepping up and giving us all that he had.
Brandon Love stepped up and did what he did with both Nighael [Ceaser] and Nate [Martin] both being down," Johnson said. "We'll take it and as we get ready to head to Hawaii, it is great momentum moving forward."
A back-and-forth contest eventually saw the Bobcats score five straight points to take a 14-11 lead. However, the Bears immediately countered with an 8-0 run that ended on a Harrell jumper. That basket also began an 11-2 scoring stretch for TXST to close the final 8:29 of the opening stanza to hold a three-point advantage.
Three made shots from beyond the shots started the second half for Texas State with the first coming from Harrell and the next two courtesy of Davis. The Bobcats would stretch their lead to 11 three times with the last being with 11:34 remaining on a Harrell layup.
Cal chipped away and got within 54-53 with 19 seconds remaining after two Devin Askew free throws. Davis made three shots at the charity stripe and Harrell knocked down two to seal the victory while the Bears were limited to a layup.
Next up for the Bobcats is a trip to Hawaii to take part in the Patty Mills North Shore Classic on the campus of BYU-Hawaii in Laie. They open the tournament with Southern Utah on Friday at 10 p.m. CT.
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