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Texas State Knocks Off Sam Houston State
Feb. 2, 2008
SAN MARCOS - Brent Benson notched a career-high 24 points to lead the Texas State Bobcats in a 96-93 overtime victory over Sam Houston State Saturday afternoon at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats have backed each Southland Conference loss with a victory, so the dropped decision at Stephen F. Austin Wednesday night left tonight's pattern open for a recuperating win. With the victory, the `Cats move to 11-10 overall and 4-3 in league action. The win also knocks the Bearkats out of a first-place division tie with Stephen F. Austin, falling 4-3 in SLC play and 16-4 overall. In an overtime battle that saw seven ties and 11 lead changes, the atmosphere in Strahan and the intensity on the court showed just as fitting, with the most memorable moments coming at 3:33 in the second half of the game. Corey Jefferson, sporting a left-hand cast, lobbed in two points in the act of falling to the ground to put the Bobcats on top 77-76. Texas State forced a turnover, reclaiming the ball on the following possession, before heading into a media timeout. Brandon Bush emerged from the short break, mimicking Jefferson with a circus shot, drawing DeLuis Ramirez's fifth foul of the night, and pulling Texas State ahead by three. Bush missed the free-throw attempt and SHSU answered with a three points from Jeremy Thomas for the sixth tie of the game at 2:38. Seconds ticked off the clock, and not until 1:48 did either team score again. Brandon Thomas was whistled for his third foul, and sent Ryan Bright to the line, where he went 1-1 to pull the Bearkats ahead. But Jefferson had no problems erasing the short-lived glory, after losing his defender, the junior knocked down his lone three-point basket, making the score 82-80, and head coach Doug Davalos erupted from his seat with bliss.
In the final minute of the second half, the Bobcats went 0-4 in the paint and 1-6 from the stripe, free points that could have sealed a Texas State victory, but Bright was sent to the line again, this time on a foul from Matt Fullenwider with 14 seconds remaining for a one-point game. Ryan White had his chance at the line for the go-ahead basket, but went 1-1 at the stripe, and Sam Houston beat Texas State back on the court and Domas Kvedys laid in an easy two points to send the game into overtime. Brent Benson started the overtime action off with a three-point shot from way beyond the arc to give Texas State a lead they would hold onto to seal the victory. At 2:34, Benson recorded a game-high and career-outing with another long-range three for 24 points, a six-point lead over the `Kats. Benson was whistled for his fifth foul on the next possession, ending the night on 8-10 from the field, 2-4 from the free throw line and an impressive 6-6 from three-point range. The six trey's fall just one shy of a Strahan Coliseum record and two behind the all-time Texas State record for most three-pointers in a single game (8). Gough reached his fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and rebounds on the night, alongside Bush who finished with 12 points and ten rebounds, his fifth double-double showing of the season. Jefferson notched 12 points and three assists, while Thomas finished with 11 points and four boards. Sam Houston State faired better in the first period, shooting 54.3 percent to Texas State's 36.6 percent and entered half-time with a seven-point lead. Gough scored the first four points for Texas State down low and nearly reached his double-double outing in the first period, tallying nine points and seven rebounds. The second-half fire was lit by Gough as well, tipping in a lay-up by Bush that trimmed the margin to five points. Bush, who went 5-9 in the half, was instrumental in the second-period comeback, scoring ten of his total points in the half. Ryan Bright led Sam Houston State on the court, recording a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Five other Bearkats finished in double-figures. For the game, Texas State shot 43.4 percent from the field, falling below a 51.5 effort from Sam Houston State. The `Kats won the battle on the boards as well, finishing two ahead of the Bobcats with 48 rebounds.. Texas State doubled SHSU's points off turnovers, converting them into 30 points, but Sam Houston finished with 60 points in the paint to Texas State's 46. Texas State will return to the court in one week, taking on Texas-Arlington at Texas Hall. The Feb. 9 tilt is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start. |
