Bobcats defeat LeTourneau for third straight win

Texas State added another win to their season total as the Bobcats defeated the LeTourneau Yellowjacks 110-69.

Being a part of last season’s team that saw the Bobcats lose to Mary Hardin Baylor, sophomore guard Jordan Mason noticed the difference coming into this year’s showdown with another team from the American Southwest Conference.

“We came out with the right energy and focus going into the game,” Mason said. “We didn’t play perfect, defensively we could have done a lot better, but we executed offensively really well. We were able to fly around and out rebound them.”

The loss to UMHB last season also helped teach both the Bobcats and Head Coach Terrence Johnson that they must always be prepared for any opponent.

“Knowing and respecting that it can happen,” Johnson said. “Sometimes we come into these games thinking it cannot happen to us. We came in with the idea that it can definitely happen to us if we do not come to play. We made enough plays offensively and defensively. They started out shooting 68% from the field at the first four minute mark then at halftime it dropped to 38%.”

With the victory moving the Bobcats over .500, Johnson was proud of the team for continuing their progress.

“It was a great win,” Johnson said. “Every time you are able to win one more you have to be happy with the outcome. I thought we did a lot of good things tonight. … We still have a ways to go, and we are trying to get healthier. This is the most guys we’ve played all year. It’s a process, but we took a step in the right direction.”

One of the keys to the Bobcats success is their ability to not only move the ball around but also capitalize on their chances.

The success of passing the ball led Texas State to finish the game with 26 assists including a game eight assists from Mason.

The high number of assists also contributed to the Bobcats having five players score more than 10 points in the win.

Junior forward Brandon Love led the Bobcats in scoring with 21 points followed by Mason with 19 points.

“We were able to move the ball around really well,” Johnson said. “This is our second game with 20 plus assists, so whenever that happens our guys are playing unselfishly. It also means our guys are making shots. … It also was one of our best three point outings we had in a long time with the number of makes and percentage.”

Another factor in the Bobcats win was their ability to respond.

LeTourneau came out hot scoring 13 points in the first five minutes of the first half only for the Bobcats to answer back each time as Texas State held a 15-13 lead.

“If we don’t respond it’s a completely different game to be honest,” Johnson said. “Then we are pressing and figuring out what to do. The bottom line was that we needed to respond offensively at that time. We certainly needed stops, but in the event you don’t get a stop you need a bucket. That’s what happened until we were able to settle and string together a couple of stops.”

Texas State will face one of their toughest tests yet as the Bobcats make the trip down to Houston in a showdown with the No. 3 ranked Cougars.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Fertitta Center in Houston.

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc