Bobcats Drop Season Opener To Falcons

Next up for TXST is the home opener on Wednesday against I-35 rival UTSA at 7 p.m.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Texas State men’s basketball team fell in the 2017-18 season opener to Air Force 65-57 at Clune Arena in the first game of the Men Against Breast Cancer Showcase. 

The Bobcats are now 0-1 for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign while the Falcons are 1-0.

 “We did not play with the energy or crispness that we needed to play with. We have to correct this problem of too many turnovers. In the two exhibition games we had close to 20 in each and tonight we had 20, which was probably the difference in the game,” said head coach Danny Kaspar. “I thought this was a game we could have won but we let it get away from us at the end of the first half. We have to learn from this experience and move forward. 

Scoring the first points of the season and the game was Immanuel King when he backed down an AF defender for a layup. The Falcons responded with a 9-0 run that was snapped on a three-pointer from the right wing by Nijal Pearson. The sophomore followed with another trey the next time down the court for a quick six points for the Bobcats.

Pearson converted an old-fashion three-point play with 4:12 left in the first half to give TXST its first lead since the opening basket of the game. 

A short jumper from Nedeljko Prijovic after driving the baseline at the 2:29 mark was the last time the Bobcats would score in the half. AF ended the half on a 12-2 to take a 33-24 advantage into intermission.

On the opening possession of the second half, the Falcons nearly got a steal but the loose ball was retrieved by Prijovic. Marlin Davis then drove the baseline and found Tyler Blount wide open for a three-pointer from the left corner to cut the deficit to 33-27.

That would be as close as the Bobcats would get as the Falcons maintained a double-digit lead nearly the rest of the way.

Air Force’s largest lead of the game was 65-48 with 3:40 left on the clock. TXST ended the game by scoring the final nine points that began when Shelby Adams converted a 3-point play after making a tough layup. Scoring the final point of the contest was Quentin Scott when he hit his second of two free throw attempts.

Pearson shared the for the game lead with 13 points and six rebounds. King added nine points as he made his lone field goal attempt and went 7-for-8 at the free throw line. The senior big man also blocked two shots to give him 40 in his career.

Davis, Pearson and Terry all finished with a team-high two assists. Coming away with a steal was Reggie Miller, Alex Peacock, Adams and Terry.

Next up for TXST is the home opener on Wednesday against I-35 rival UTSA at 7 p.m. The game will air in on KCWX (San Antonio).

For the latest on Texas State men’s basketball, visit the official website of Texas State athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, follow the team on Instagram and Twitter at @TxStateMBB and like on Facebook at /TexasStateMensBasketball.

Box Score: http://txstatebobcats.com/boxscore.aspx?path=&id=5219