|
Bobcats Face-Off with the Mavericks
Feb. 8, 2008
SAN MARCOS - After a one-week resting period, the Texas State Bobcats head to Texas-Arlington Saturday for a 4 p.m. tilt with the Mavericks at Texas Hall. The `Cats are 11-10 on the season and 2-2 in SLC road contests. The Bobcats are refreshed and riding the momentum of a 96-93 overtime victory last Saturday over Sam Houston State. The win highlighted SLC action, as the loss for SHSU knocked the team out of a first place division tie with Stephen F. Austin and handed the Bearkats their fourth loss of the season. Brent Benson led the `Cats in their second-half scoring frenzy, knocking down 6-6 from the three-point mark to aid his career-high 24-point outing. Brandon Bush (12, 10) and Ty Gough (13, 13) both added a double-doubles to their resume, while Dylan Moseley and Corey Jefferson finished in double figures as well. The Bobcat defense was ever-present over Sam Houston, forcing 25 turnovers, while the `Cats snagged nine steals on the night. Texas-Arlington (15-6, 4-4) took a break from Southland Action to host Texas-Pan American Tuesday night. Larry Posey went 5-7 from the field and 5-6 at the stripe to lead the team with 15 points and ten rebounds, the sole double-double of the night. The Mav's led by three points entering the half, but UTPA forced a second-half comeback that took the lead with under three minutes on the clock, but couldn't hold on for the finish. The Mavericks have run a successful campaign this season, taking 17-consecutive victories at Texas Hall to set a school record. The streak was snapped in UTA's Feb. 2 meeting with Stephen. F. Austin that shifted the Mavericks out of a first-place division ranking. UTA leads the conference with a .479 field goal percentage and backs it with .384 percent defense on the ball. The Bobcats fall in respectively at sixth and ninth in both columns. However, both teams rank in at the lower end of the free throw column, Texas State at .624 and Texas-Arlington at .643 for the bottom two league-rankings.
Bush, who averages 14.6 points, will battle Texas-Arlington's Anthony Vereen at the net. Vereen leads the Mavericks with an even 13 points per outing, while grabbing 4.8 rebounds, as well. Bush also heads Texas State's rebound column, falling in at 7.2 average boards that will be challenged by Jermaine Griffin's 8.2 showing. Griffin's high-mark places him in the second-place seat in league competition. Texas State leads the all-time series record with Texas-Arlington, 25-20. Last season, the `Cats fell to UTA in their final game of the season, 93-84 at Texas Hall. The Bobcats last winning season over the Mavericks came in 2005 when the team swept Texas-Arlington 75-72 at Strahan Coliseum and 66-62 on the road in Arlington. Saturday's game can be followed on www.txstatebobcats.com through the listen links attached to the schedule. |
